Charging your EV on sunlight is one of the best uses of solar. Smart charging makes it automatic.
Why solar + EV is a perfect pair
An electric car is essentially a large battery on wheels. If you charge it from solar, your fuel becomes free after the system pays for itself — and your driving emissions drop to near zero.
The challenge: timing
Most people plug in when they get home — the evening peak — exactly when solar generation is falling. Charging from the grid at that time is expensive and less clean.
Smart charging solves it
A smart EV charger paired with your solar system can:
- Detect surplus solar and direct it to the car.
- Ramp charging up and down to match available generation.
- Schedule charging for off-peak if solar isn't enough.
- Prioritise home battery or hot water first if you prefer.
Sizing your system
An EV can add 10–15 kWh of daily demand (roughly 50–80 km of driving). If you're buying solar with an EV in mind, size up so you have surplus to charge from.
The takeaway
With the right setup, your car effectively runs on sunshine. Plan your solar and charging together rather than adding an EV charger as an afterthought.