Can solar panels be used to charge an EV?

If you own an EV, you probably don’t think much about how the electricity you charge your car with is produced. I simply plug my car in, and let it charge at home or at a Supercharger. 

I wanted to exclusively use solar panels to charge my Tesla Model Y. After a process that took about 5 months, I owned 14 solar panels and 3 Tesla Powerwalls. I’ll write about my experience so you can decide if you want to invest in solar panels to charge your EV. 

The Ordering Process

The Tesla website ordering process was easy. All permits, documents, and plans were clearly communicated and I planned for 28 solar panels, as that is what my husband and I estimated would fit on our roof. We wanted to maximize our electricity production. 

City of Austin Fire Code

We were disappointed when the City of Austin inspected our roof and marked off a large area. They said they needed to be left alone because the fire department needed access in case of a fire. We were informed that we could only install 14 Tesla solar panels. Tesla solar systems are designed to generate enough energy to meet your family's basic needs and to reduce how much energy you purchase from your local utility company. In our case, Tesla was limited to 50% by city fire codes. We thought about declining to move forward with the process, however, I wanted the assurance of having backup power from Powerwalls in case of a severe power outage due to winter ice storms. 

We Proceeded With The Plan

Not to be dissuaded, we decided to proceed with our solar and Powerwall installation. It was very exciting when the Tesla installers came, and their work was professionally done. They installed a Powerwall Plus, a Gateway, and two more Powerwalls. Everything was immaculate. The app on our phone started to work showing us solar generation and we were excited about owning such a well-engineered system. 

We Needed More Panels

As you may have guessed, the 14 panels we had were not enough to completely power our home, charge our two Teslas, and store backup power. Even on bright sunny days, we had to draw power from the grid to charge our EVs. This is where I usually stop to say I am happy to own the system, and this is also where I advise people who are going to pay all the costs out of their pocket, to be aware of the need for lots of solar panels. The success of the system depends on you having as many panels as possible, and some homes just don’t have room for many panels. Our situation is a cautionary tale. 

So Can I Charge My Tesla With Solar Panels?

My Tesla still needs the grid to fully charge on most days. However, on a sunny day, my home utilities can still be fully powered by the sun. 80% of all my generated power powers my home. Here’s a breakdown from the Tesla App. 

Is It Possible to Charge an EV with Solar Panels? 

Of course, some utility companies have invested in large-scale solar farms as well as large-scale battery storage. When the sun does not shine, utility customers can still charge their EVs from the energy stored in big batteries that come from the sun. If you would like to read more about that you can check out an article I wrote, “Energy Reliability from Big Batteries for Texas and Beyond.”

Remember to check out Xcelerate's great products and offerings. If you are ready to extend your EV warranty for your peace of mind, check out their XCare Plan.