[Tagtiv8]

Is there any way we can specify that our solar panels can directly or indirectly charge our electric vehicle?

[Lee_EONNext]

@Tagtiv8 Hey

Appreciate this post was a while ago, I know there was talk of solar specifically to charge an EV.

Your standard solar system is probably not wired to do such however we would always recommend you contact an MCS accredited installer when it comes to types of technology, especially this type.

Did you find out any further information on this?

[theunknowntech]

Nope. Not physically possible I'm afraid. the electricity generated will go basically wherever it wants to go.

[wizzo227]

The usual home charger for a Nissan is >3kW.
The usual home charger for a Tesla is >6kW.
There are 22kW chargers going up at my supermarket.

From 2kW(peak) solar panels on my roof, over the past month ( 26th October to 27th November 2022 ) total solar generation has been 85.5 kWh; about one full battery of a Tesla or two full batteries of a Leaf. I size my vehicle to be inside my solar surplus capacity and I did recharge it for free on Saturday, having gone 25 miles at 15 mph on Friday in green Oxfordshire countryside.
I use a motor assisted pedal cycle.

[retrotecchie]

@theunknowntech

If you have a system capable of islanding, you can put that electricity anywhere you want it!

[Indyk_EONNext]

Hey 👋 @Tagtiv8

It's been a while since we have heard from you, so I was just checking in to see how you're getting on with charging your EV 🚗

[PhilipLactophobe]

EV chargers can often be setup to sense power going from the house to the grid - if they sense it they suck it into the car charger.

But do you want to do that? Overnight charging costs apx 7p / kWh, selling excess power to the grid pays more than twice that.

So using solar to charge the car actually costs you money, it's not free!

[Lee_EONNext]

@PhilipLactophobe

During the day, again depending on the customers tariff, the cost would depend, so potentially charging during the day could be beneficial, there's also no guarantee you will even export anything during the day, people with solar still need to be energy efficient etc.

Another thing to consider, SEG is not linear in terms of tariff, it varies, some people are on more than others. This is something that needs to be looked at case by case for me.

I do agree with using the overnight charge where possible, again if you're on the EV, Drive or E7 tariffs.

Selling back to the grid would be more in most cases if you have access to a 7p charging rate, however it would be more beneficial to use all units in home before exporting, as the cost of a unit is often more than double the cost of what you get for export.

Each scenario needs to be handled differently in my opinion, great comment though, could open a can of worms for the right reasons and will hopefully raise some awareness.

What EV do you have at the moment?

[PhilipLactophobe]

No EV presently, but I do have sufficent home battery to run the house all day from the overnight grid charge, so I am exporting about 95% of solar.

[Lee_EONNext]

@PhilipLactophobe Ok, would be great if you had any tips on how you got your export to that level?