If you have an electric vehicle (EV) or plan to own one, charging it with home solar energy and battery storage is a great way to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels further. One in four electric vehicle owners also installed a home solar system or planned to install one.¹ 

Home solar and battery storage can provide electricity for your EV, help offset the cost of charging your car and provide crucial backup power when the electrical grid goes down. By using solar energy, you can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, positively impacting the environment.

Embracing this technology means tapping into renewable energy sources and contributing to a more sustainable future. To learn more, keep reading or contact one of our expert Solar Advisors to see how an EV plus home solar can power you forward.

Can you charge your electric vehicle with solar power?

The short answer is yes. You'll need a home solar system for EV charging at home without using fossil fuel. Many solar installers will help you adequately determine the number of panels you’ll need for EV charging with home solar panels. We recommend contacting your EV dealership or manufacturer if you want to add a smart charging system to your home.

Even if you don’t have an electric car yet but plan to get one soon, Sunrun’s experienced Solar Advisors can still help you find a custom-fit solar system for your home. We’ll account for the power you’ll need to charge your EV and meet your family’s electricity needs while maximizing savings.

With the right setup, you can use solar power directly to charge your electric vehicles, ensuring a clean and efficient energy source. This approach can help you avoid fluctuating electricity prices and provide a stable, predictable cost for EV charging.

Offset the cost of EV charging

In addition to the estimated $632 per year you might save on gas, there are other ways to further offset the cost of charging your electric vehicle.²  While you won’t pay for gas, you’ll still have to pay for the electricity you need to power it if you charge your EV at home.

If you live in a state or region with Time-of-Use (TOU) rates, the best time to charge your car will likely be during off-peak hours when rates are cheapest (depending on your rate plan).³ Off-peak hours will most likely be during the middle of the day, overnight, or on the weekends when electricity usage is in low demand.

Your day doesn’t have to revolve around finding the right time to charge your EV. With Sunrun’s solar and battery storage, you can buffer the cost of peak TOU rates by storing the sun’s energy when you need it most.

By aligning your charging schedule with peak solar production, you can maximize the efficiency of your solar system. Solar battery storage will allow you to charge your EV whenever needed without anticipating a sky-high utility bill at the end of the month, effectively managing usage charges. A smart charger can also help optimize your charging times and energy use.

Additionally, net metering can reduce costs by selling excess energy back to the grid, offsetting the electricity you use for EV charging.

Backup your electricity with solar batteries

Although solar panels can power your electric car, a solar battery can help you go the extra mile. With the addition of a home solar battery, you can protect your family during the next blackout and count on clean, reliable, and unlimited solar energy.

In an electrical grid outage, a solar battery can power your home and your electric car. Instead of a dirty and potentially dangerous backup generator that runs on fuel, a solar battery has a reserve of clean solar energy that can be replenished every day until the grid power is back up again.⁴

The efficiency of your solar panels depends on having a reliable storage solution, and a solar battery provides just that, ensuring a continuous power supply even during outages. A solar battery allows you to store excess solar energy produced during the day and use it whenever needed. 

By storing excess electricity, you can ensure your home and electric vehicle remain powered even when the grid is down. This setup provides more power, keeping your household running smoothly and your EV charging.

Affordable, industry-leading home solar system

Many of us want to do our part to reduce our impact on the environment while optimizing our everyday lives. However, purchasing an EV and a solar energy system can require considerable cash upfront. Everyone is entitled to power their lives with resilient and renewable energy. 

Sunrun’s flexible solar plans allow you to go solar for as little as $0 down. Our monthly solar plan is backed by our industry-leading Solar Guarantee, which includes 24/7 monitoring and maintenance and full insurance coverage. If you choose a solar lease, you’ll lock in a solar electricity rate for up to 25 years. You can protect yourself from surprise utility bills as utility rates (even off-peak rates) continue to rise.^5,6

Sunrun’s solar plans also support EV charging, ensuring your electric vehicles are powered by clean, renewable energy. By integrating EV charging with your home solar system, you can optimize energy usage and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

With our home solar systems, you can generate more power to meet your growing energy needs and save money in the long run. Turn to clean energy with Sunrun and save on EV charging today!

References

1. Driving an electric car inspired me to install solar panels in my home — and it's saving me money

2. Relative Costs of Driving Electric and Gasoline Vehicles in the Individual U.S. States

3. Electric Vehicle (EV) rate plans

4. Using a Generator at Home

5. https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-owner-switched-to-solar-panels-and-ended-up-saving-money-2017-7

6. SHORT-TERM ENERGY OUTLOOK