I'm considering setting up an off-grid solar charging station for my electric vehicle near my driveway. I have space for ground-mounted solar panels, but I'm wondering if I can use that solar energy directly to charge my car. Would I need a ton of battery packs to make this feasible, or is there a simpler solution out there that I might be overlooking? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
6 Answers
It's definitely possible! I have a system set up that works well for me. It requires some commitment and tinkering, though. I use two 6000xp EG4 inverters and about 45kwh from three wall batteries. Plus, I've got an OpenEVSE charger that I can control with Home Assistant. You'll notice the need for batteries because they help manage the variable solar input—you won't fully charge your car using solar alone, as it takes too long without batteries to store the energy.
Absolutely, it's doable! I'd recommend investing in a 3000w or larger hybrid inverter along with plenty of batteries and solar panels. I've been using this method for my EV charging. For a slow charge, you'd be looking at about a 1200w load, so plan your battery and panel sizes accordingly.
I saw a really cool video about a guy who set up a solar charging system for his EV on his off-grid land. He built a small structure for his equipment, including a 4kw ground mount, which was tall enough for his car to park under and stay shaded. Very clever!
It actually sounds pretty straightforward to charge with solar! A Level 1 charger runs on 120V AC, drawing around 2KW or less. You'd just need a compatible inverter and enough solar setup with batteries to sustain the process. Charging will be much better during the day with solar directly powering the car, otherwise, you might end up needing quite a few batteries to keep things running smoothly. You could also go for a Level 2 charger if you're up for the extra setup.
You might not need batteries after all! There are chargers like the Emporia that can utilize any leftover solar power to charge your EV. They adjust the charging current based on what's available from the solar panels. It's mainly designed for grid use, but could work for your setup too!
You do need batteries. Solar panels alone won't keep up with the charging demands of an EV consistently. They can't produce enough power throughout the day to make it viable on their own.