Path-Q Solar

Does charging an EV at home during the day materially improve solar savings?

Answer

It can materially improve solar self-consumption when the EV is connected during periods of solar surplus. The financial improvement depends on the amount charged during those periods, the value of exported electricity, charging controls, and whether daytime charging changes the home's total electricity use.

Key points

  • Daytime charging can use solar directly instead of exporting it and later buying electricity.
  • The EV must be present and able to charge when sufficient solar power is available.
  • Managed charging can preserve solar use while avoiding unnecessary charging at low-production times.
  • The EV may increase self-consumption without changing the solar array's total production.

What it depends on

  • Vehicle availability at home during daylight
  • Charger power and controllability
  • Solar output relative to household loads
  • Import rates and export-credit treatment

Risks and trade-offs

  • Charging only during daylight may conflict with driving needs.
  • A high-power charger can draw from the grid when solar output is insufficient.
  • The savings from shifting charging depend on billing rules and may be modest if exports are already highly valued.

Information you may need

  • Typical vehicle arrival and departure times
  • Charging energy and desired charging speed
  • Solar production and household load profile
  • Electricity import and export terms

Your next step

What to do next

Compare unmanaged charging with solar-following or scheduled charging using the home's load and production profiles.

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SQ01608