I'm trying to figure out a rough estimate for a DIY solar setup to power two electric vehicles (EVs). Each car uses about 3200 kWh per year, adding up to a total of 6400 kWh, which means I need around 17 kWh daily. I have a carport that can accommodate 10-15 solar panels. Here are my specific questions: 1. Should I aim to buy enough batteries to store 17 kWh, or would it be more cost-effective to get a smaller setup like 8 kWh? 2. How much space will I need for this? 3. Can I use 240V EV chargers, or am I limited to 120V? 4. Given that electricity costs about $0.40 per kWh in my area, what's the general return on investment (ROI) I can expect?
1 Answer
It's important to remember that you likely won't get a full 17 kWh from your panels every day, especially with unpredictable weather. Plus, fully cycling your batteries from 100% to 0% regularly can really shorten their lifespan. It might make more sense to consider selling excess power back to the grid instead of trying to meet the full charging needs with your solar setup right off the bat. That said, you could always keep your grid options open for charging as needed!
Got it! So maybe I shouldn't worry too much about covering every kWh? I just want to learn and have hands-on experience with building my system anyway. I already have a grid-tied solar setup, which offsets my energy use completely, but I'm curious about building my own.