How EV Drivers Can Save by Charging on Photo voltaic

The listing of causes to drive an electrical automobile is in depth. EVs are cleaner, quieter, and cheaper to function than gasoline automobiles. They’re additionally punchy, intuitive, and simply plain enjoyable to drive.

However one main benefit that always goes ignored is that EVs allow drivers to manage their gas prices by producing their very own electrical energy with dwelling photo voltaic, which has by no means – and can by no means – be an choice for gasoline automotive drivers. House charging is already a comfort particular to EVs, and it will get even higher when paired with photo voltaic panels.

On this article, we’ll discover what number of panels it takes to cost an EV and the way a lot EV drivers can save by charging on dwelling photo voltaic.

Examine quotes on dwelling electrification upgrades like photo voltaic panels and EV charging.

House Many Photo voltaic Panels Do You Have to Cost an Electrical Automotive?

Earlier than we are able to calculate the price of dwelling charging on photo voltaic versus grid electrical energy, we want a baseline of what number of panels it takes to cost an EV.

That depends upon three principal components:

• How a lot electrical energy the EV requires
• How a lot solar the home will get
• The facility output of the panels

For this instance, let’s fake you drive a Hyundai IONIQ 5 for 37 miles per day (the common for American drivers). In keeping with the US Division of Vitality, the 2022 IONIQ 5 has a gas financial system ranking of 30 kWh per 100 miles, which suggests you want 11.1 kWh of electrical energy to journey 37 miles.

So, what number of panels does that take to supply? It depends upon the quantity of solar and the ability output of the panels. The typical variety of peak solar hours per day ranges from 4-6 in America, so we’ll cut up the distinction with 5.

11.1 kWh per day / 5 peak solar hours per day = 2.22 kW of manufacturing per hour

Subsequent, we divide that by 83 % to account for energy loss whereas changing from DC electrical energy produced by the panels to AC used to cost an EV.

2.22 kW / .83 = 2.67 kW

So, the common driver wants 2.67 kW – or 2,670 Watts – of photo voltaic capability to cost an IONIQ 5. We will divide that by 400W (the commonest panel measurement) to get the variety of panels.

2,670 W / 400 W panels = 6.675 panels

Since you’ll be able to’t set up partial panels, we’ll spherical as much as 7 panels for the common driver to cost an IONIQ 5. 

In fact, the variety of panels required to cost an EV varies based mostly on driving habits, solar publicity, and panel output; a Californian with a brief commute will want fewer panels than a Michigander driving 50 miles a day.

Usually, it takes someplace between 3-10 panels to supply the electrical energy required to cost an EV. Now that we’ve got a baseline, let’s see the associated fee distinction between charging on photo voltaic and grid electrical energy. Want a charger in your IONIQ 5? Take a look at the Hyundai House Market.

How A lot Can You Save by Charging Your EV With Photo voltaic?

Let’s say you have got a Hyundai IONIQ 5 that you just’ve been charging at dwelling on grid electrical energy for the final six months. How a lot may you save by putting in 2.67 kW of photo voltaic panel capability to cost it?

At $3.5 per Watt, including 2.76 kW of photo voltaic capability would have a gross price of $9,345, and a internet price of $6,542 after claiming the 30% federal photo voltaic tax credit score. A method to take a look at going photo voltaic is shopping for electrical energy in bulk.

As a substitute of paying the ever-rising retail value for electrical energy, you pay a one-time sum of $6,542 to cost your EV(s) for the 25-year warrantied lifetime of the panels.

One other means to take a look at it’s decreasing your electrical energy price. Over 25 years, a 2.76 kW system will be anticipated to supply 93,230 kWh of electrical energy. In the event you divide the price of the system by the lifetime manufacturing, you get a levelized price of seven cents per kWh.

$6,542 / 93,230 kWh = 7 cents per kWh

Given the nationwide common electrical energy value of 16.5 cents per kWh, you’re principally paying half value for electrical energy to gas your IONIQ 5. Over the lifetime of the system, that provides up tens of 1000’s in electrical energy price financial savings, seemingly spreading over a number of EVs.

Paying money for the photo voltaic capability provides the best alternative for financial savings, though it will probably take 8-9 years to interrupt even. However, taking out a photo voltaic mortgage provides barely decrease lifetime financial savings (on account of curiosity funds), however permits for a faster break-even level.

Extra Than Simply Saving

Whereas it’s at all times essential to contemplate the underside line, charging an EV on photo voltaic is about extra than simply vitality price financial savings. House photo voltaic can be the cleanest means to cost an EV, as most utility suppliers nonetheless rely closely on fossil fuels to generate electrical energy.

That’s to not point out that rooftop photo voltaic requires zero further land and gives a built-in response when your cousin Todd tries to inform you that EVs aren’t price it as a result of they’re charged on coal energy.

Above all, charging on photo voltaic provides you management of your gas prices. It’s as much as you whether or not you purchase seven panels to chop your electrical energy price to 7 cents per kWh, or 4 panels to chop it to 10 cents per kWh. You management manufacturing, transmission and consumption of the gas in your automotive – which is far more than any gasoline automotive driver can say.

 

This text is supported by Electrum and Photo voltaic.com.