As the world moves away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, more and more people are looking for ways to incorporate solar power into their lives. One common question we get is whether or not home solar can charge an electric car. The answer is yes, and it very well may be the perfect combo– but there are a few things you should know first.
How Solar Can Charge an Electric Car
Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular, but one of the main concerns people have about making the switch is range anxiety – that is, the fear of running out of charge and being stranded somewhere. Solar can help ease range anxiety by allowing you to charge your car at home using the power of the sun.
If you’re thinking about making the switch to an electric car, here are a few things you need to know about solar and electric vehicle charging:
1. You’ll need a home charger installed. Most electric cars come with a Level 1 charger that can be plugged into any standard outlet, but this will charge your car very slowly – it could take up to 8 hours to fully charge a single battery. For faster charging, you’ll need a Level 2 charger, which requires a 240-volt circuit like those used for clothes dryers and stoves. You can install a Level 2 charger yourself, but we recommend hiring a professional electrician to do it for you.
2. Your solar system needs to be properly sized. In order for solar charging to be effective, your system needs to be properly sized for both your energy needs and your roof space. Our team of experts can help you determine what size system you need and where it should go on your property. Typically a few extra solar panels will be needed to accommodate the yearly energy used to charge an electric vehicle.
3. Many electric vehicles will soon serve as a source of energy storage for your home. The Ford Lightning has this capability and many more will offer it soon. The solar production will offset the energy used to charge the vehicle’s battery at night, and directly charge the vehicle’s battery while the sun is shining. Your home will be able to utilize energy from the vehicle’s battery in the event of an outage.
One of the issues we are already experiencing with electric vehicles is the increased demand on the utility grid. In California, residents have already been told not to charge their electric vehicles during peak usage times. A downfall of this is the fact that more coal power must be produced in order to offset electric vehicle charging demand. As you may already thinking, this is a catch 22. How can one claim that electric vehicles will have a positive environmental impact when it is resulting in more coal power production being needed to offset the demand on the grid? The solution to this: the solar + electric vehicle charging combo.
Making the switch to an electric car is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on fuel costs, but it’s important to do your research first. Solar power can be a great way to charge your electric car, but you’ll need to make sure your property has adequate sun exposure, enough extra solar production to charge the vehicle and the right equipment to provide the benefits of solar EV charging.
EV Charger Sales & Installation – Pamlico Solar
Pamlico Solar is a solar company that is located in Wilmington, NC. They offer many services including helping their customers to better understand all of their solar options. One of the options that Pamlico Solar offers is the best system to use when charging an EV. Pamlico Solar can help make sure that you have all the information that you need in order to make the best decision for your needs. Pamlico Solar is a great resource for anyone who is looking to learn more about solar energy and how it can benefit them.
