As both solar panels and electric vehicles have seen immense increases in popularity in recent years, the connections between the two are unavoidable. A common question in this realm: Can solar panels power your entire electric vehicle? The answer: Absolutely!
At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we're here to offer not only the very best solar panel installation services in Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho areas, but also related services like EV charger installation and more. Here are some basics on how EV chargers work, some of the formats they're available in, and how your robust options today mean you can charge your vehicle entirely using solar power generated from these various sources.
Solar EV Charger Basics and Formats
For those just learning about EV chargers, here are some basics:
- Level 1 Chargers: These use a standard household outlet (120 volts) to charge your electric vehicle. This is the slowest charging option as it typically takes around 8 to 12 hours for a full charge.
- Level 2 Chargers: These use a higher voltage outlet (240 volts) and can provide faster charging times than Level 1 chargers. They are often installed at homes and businesses and can fully charge an EV in about 4 to 6 hours.
- DC Fast Chargers: These are the fastest option available, using direct current power to quickly charge your electric vehicle in about 30 minutes.
There are also a few different settings in which these can be found:
- Home setups: These can be installed in garages or driveways and are convenient for at-home charging. They often offer Level 1 or Level 2 charging options.
- Public charging stations: These are located in various public areas such as parking lots, shopping centers, and rest stops. They usually offer DC Fast Charging options but may also have Level 2 chargers available.
- Workplace charging: Some employers may provide EV charging stations at their workplace to encourage employees to drive electric vehicles. These can be a great option for regular daily charging.
Benefits of Using Solar Power to Charge Electric Vehicles
There are several key benefits to using solar power as a source of energy when charging electric vehicles. These include:
- Cost savings: By generating your own electricity with solar panels, you can save money on utility bills and reduce the overall cost of charging your EV.
- Environmental impact: Solar power is a renewable resource, meaning it does not deplete Earth's natural resources. Using solar energy to charge your EV significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
- Convenience: With at-home solar panel installation, you can have access to clean energy for charging your EV right in your own driveway. This eliminates the need to find and travel to public charging stations or worry about workplace charging availability.
- Energy independence: By generating your own electricity with solar panels, you can become less reliant on the traditional energy grid. This can provide peace of mind during power outages or natural disasters.
- Government incentives: Many governments around the world offer incentives for individuals who invest in solar energy systems. These incentives can include tax credits, rebates, or grants that help offset the cost of installation and make it more affordable for individuals to adopt clean energy.
What About Solar Panels Directly Placed on Vehicles?
While certain companies or entities have done limited amounts of research or even basic R&D projects in the realm of attaching actual solar panels to vehicles themselves, this remains a relatively untapped market. Today's solar panel technology still requires a decently large capture space, for one; the fact that vehicles are regularly moving also introduces a whole range of new challenges.
Now, that's not to say that there may not come a day - perhaps even in the relatively near future - where electric vehicles can charge themselves even while driving. For the moment, though, charging needs to be done at one of the locations we went over earlier.
Do You Need a Home EV Charger?
Do you need a home EV charger? There are a few factors that tend to make it a good option.
The first is how much cheaper and convenient it is to charge your vehicle at home compared to public charging stations. We estimate it’s about 2.5 to 3 times cheaper in this setting; here’s a breakdown of some basic numbers:
Charging at Home with $0.15/kWh:
- Cost per kWh (kilowatt hour): Typically $0.10 to $0.25 (based on U.S. average residential electricity rates)
- Small EV Car (60-75 kWh): 60 kWh x $0.15 = $9.00
- Medium EV Car (70-100 kWh): 85 kWh x 0.15 = $12.75
- Large EV Car (100-200 kWh): 150 kWh x 0.15 = $22.50
Fast Charging Station at $0.45/kWh:
- Cost per kWh (kilowatt hour): Typically $0.30 to $0.60 (sometimes higher, some charge per minute which can be more expensive for slower charging EVs)
- Small EV Car (60-75 kWh): 60 kWh x $0.45 = $27.00
- Medium EV Car (70-100 kWh): 85 kWh x 0.45 = $38.25
- Large EV Car (100-200 kWh): 150 kWh x 0.45 = $67.5
At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we're here to help with both solar installation and EV charger installation services for clients around SLC, Utah and Boise, Idaho areas. Contact us today to learn more or arrange services!
