Solar + EV: Can Solar Panels Charge Your Car? The Complete Guide
Charging an EV from your own solar — the smart way to do it, what it costs, and how much array you need.
Charging your EV from solar is the cleanest pairing available — but the practical answer depends on how much you drive, when you charge, and whether you have a battery.
How much solar you need
A typical EV consumes roughly 4–6 km per kWh. Let’s say you drive 40 km/day — that’s about 8 kWh/day on top of the home. To cover that with solar alone (no battery, daytime charging) you need roughly 2–3 kW of extra array, or the equivalent spread over your system.
Approx extra solar needed for EV commuting
| Daily driving | Energy/day | Extra solar (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 km | ~4 kWh | ~1.5 kW |
| 40 km | ~8 kWh | ~3 kW |
| 80 km | ~16 kWh | ~6 kW |
Charge with your surplus
A smart charger can detect when you have surplus solar and prioritise charging during those windows, raising self-consumption. Without a battery, that’s the most economical way to charge an EV from solar.
Do I need a bigger system for an EV?
Can I charge my EV from solar without a battery?
Next steps
Get EV charger installation quotes and explore the EV charging hub for charger types and costs.