As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, more homes are being equipped with solar power, and more people are purchasing electric vehicles. When you have both, you can almost be fully self-sufficient.
The switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles is a great way to help the environment, but powering your new vehicle from home can take some planning. After all, powering your electric vehicle requires energy, and you’ll have to pay for anything you take out of the local power grid. If you have been wondering whether you can use your Port Saint Lucie solar panel system to power your electric car, keep reading.
Can I Use Solar From My Home to Power My Electric Car?
In short, yes, you absolutely can use solar power from your home to power your electric vehicle. You don’t need to make any particular arrangements to do so, but if you want your electric vehicle to only use energy from your solar panels, then you may need to do some special planning.
How Do I Use Solar From My Home to Power My Electric Car?
To use solar energy to power your electric car, you’ll need to make sure your system can accommodate both your home’s and your vehicle’s needs. If it can’t supply enough energy for both, then you will end up using energy from the power grid to help top off whatever energy needs remain.
Every household will be different, so first, take the time to calculate how much energy you need to power your home. Our professional solar company can assist you with this.
Knowing how much energy you’ll need to power your electric vehicle will be a little different. On average, a Tesla Model 3 car will require 5 solar panels to power it. This will give it enough power to drive about 40 miles for the day. Depending on your vehicle, this will vary, but it’s a good starting point to base your solar power system on.
Before you can begin powering your car through your home’s solar energy system, you’ll need to buy an inverter and an EV charging station. You’ll also need to buy a battery to store the energy that your solar panels produce and allow you to charge your vehicle overnight.
You don’t need a smart charger, but this can make it easier to plan when to charge your vehicle and ensure that the energy for your vehicle is only coming from your solar panels.
Setting up your solar panels to power your electric car is more complicated than simply plugging your car into a panel itself. To set up the charging station and connect it to your solar energy, you’ll need to contact a professional. This will ensure that the set-up is done correctly and that everything is safe and ready to use when you need it.
Why Should I Use Solar to Power My Electric Car?
Using solar energy is not only better for the environment, but it’s also cheaper. While installing solar panels is an investment, it pays itself off if you’re using the energy to power both your home and your vehicle. Once you reach the breakeven point, you’re essentially getting free energy and power until you need to tap into the local energy grid.
Solar energy is much better for the environment and can save you a lot of money in the long run. With many state governments offering incentives and tax breaks for homeowners who make the switch, they have even more benefits than just providing free energy.
In the long run, using solar to power your electric vehicle will help you save money on fuel costs, reduce your carbon footprint, and save on energy bills.
Conclusion
Solar energy is a great way to make your home more self-sufficient and eco-friendly. Whether you use solar energy to power your electric car or your entire home, it’s one of the best ways to help protect the environment without giving up on basic energy needs. Call us today if you have any further questions about powering your home and electric car with solar!