With gasoline prices up and clean energy in the ascendancy, increasing numbers of smart people are asking a question:
Yes, it is possible to charge your electric car using solar panels.
It all sounds like the perfect green setup—use sunshine to power your home and your car, skip the gas station, and cruise emissions-free. Does it work in the real world, however? How many panels would you need? How much will it cost?
Now let’s dive in on what it actually takes to power an EV with solar.
The Attraction of Solar-Powered Automobiles
Imagine coming home, charging up your EV, and knowing it is fueled by sunshine gathered on your own roof. That’s the dream for many homeowners and clean energy advocates.
It’s not just about saving money—it’s about energy independence, reduced emissions, and being a part of a smarter future. But that vision depends on a few key things: your driving style, your home’s solar potential, and the design of your EV charging system.
How It Works: EV Charging With Solar Power
It is really simple technologically to power an electric car with solar panels. Your solar panels generate power from the sun during the day. The power can run your home directly, power your EV if it is connected, or be stored in a storage battery to power it at a later time.
If you’re not home during the day, more energy can be fed into the grid (where net metering occurs), and you can take power back at night—essentially using the grid like a battery.
To charge more quickly, a Level 2 EV charger is usually put in by most homeowners, giving you about 25–30 miles of range per hour charge—perfect for an overnight refuel.
How Many Panels Do You Need?
Image by Gosun
This is where it becomes practical.
The average electric vehicle uses about 0.27 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per mile. So, if you drive 40 miles a day, your car uses about 11 kWh of power each day.
In sunny California, a typical home solar panel will create 1.5–2 kWh of electricity per day. Therefore, you would require 6 to 8 panels alone for the daily need for your car.
If you want to cover the consumption of both your house and your EV, you will require between 15 and 25 panels, depending on your consumption, mileage range, and how efficient the panels are.
What Does It Cost?
The good news: the cost of solar plummeted over the last decade. It’s still a investment, though.
A solar installation for a home may cost $10,000 to $20,000 after rebates for an average home installation. A Level 2 home charger is another $500 to $1,200. If you install a battery storage system—like Tesla Powerwall—that is an extra cost but allows you to charge your EV overnight with solar electricity stored during the day.
Remember that the majority of states have tax credits, rebates, or net metering plans that will save you a lot in the long run.
What About Night Charging?
This is one of the greatest concerns.
Solar panels cannot supply power at night, so you will continue to draw from the grid at night if you do not charge your EV during the day or do not have a home battery storage system.
Some accomplish this by recharging their car at work (if there is solar there), or recharging their home during the day when solar generation is at its peak. Some use net metering and “bank” solar credits during the day and use them at night.
Is It Worth It?
In most cases—yes.
If you live in a sunny spot, own your home, and plan on residing there for many years to come, solar powering your EV is not only good for the environment, but it’s inexpensive, too. After you cover the upfront investment, fuel for your car costs you essentially nothing. And it’s clean, quiet, and forward-thinking.
Of course, everything depends on your own circumstances: your driving patterns, solar resource, rates that your utility company provides, and whether incentives are accessible to you.
But most homeowners find that the savings and pleasure of solar-powered driving are worth the hassle.
Common Questions
Can I charge my EV with solar even on a cloudy day?
Yes, but your panels will produce less electricity. You might need to take more from the grid on cloudy days.
Is a battery needed?
Not necessarily. Most residences have net metering instead. Although if you do require total energy independence—or want to plug in your EV overnight from stored solar—a battery is the solution.
Can I go totally off-grid?
It’s possible, but more complex. You’d need a large solar array, battery storage, and back-ups. Most people opt to stay grid-connected for convenience.
The Bottom Line
Is the sun enough, then? Yes—with the proper system and setup, it definitely is. A well-designed solar installation will fully or virtually fully charge your electric vehicle, especially if you live in a sunny state such as California. And with some intelligent planning, you can reduce your energy bills, never have to visit a gas station again, and drastically lower your carbon footprint. Clean energy once simply powered your home—now you can power your life on the go too.
