Solar can help electric vehicle (EV) owners save money and be more eco-friendly
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to American homeowners. Demand for electric cars has tripled in the past three years as many consumers want to reduce their carbon footprint — and lower household expenses.
Both EVs and solar energy have become affordable in recent years, which has helped thousands of Americans spend less money on gas and electricity.
Solar is naturally the best friend of electric vehicles. Solar panels provide clean energy that can power your EV and help you save on utility bills. While EVs are more sustainable than gasoline cars, solar energy further reduces your dependency on fossil fuels.
Enact creates custom solar systems for homeowners with or without EVs. Whether you have an EV or want one, Enact can design a new solar system or upgrade your current system. Our mission is to simplify solar buying and ownership
Can solar energy help EV owners?
Yes, solar energy can help EV owners by offering low-cost, clean energy. EV owners can charge their vehicle with renewable energy from solar panels and reduce their reliance on the electrical grid and fossil fuels.
Solar panels create energy from sunshine and lower your utility bill, which can help reduce your monthly household expenses. While EV charging is cheaper than gasoline, solar energy can increase your monthly savings. Even though EV owners don’t pay for gas, EVs run on electricity which can add to your utility bill.
Enact can help you install solar panels for your home or business. Our energy advisors create custom solar proposals made just for your home. Plus, Enact offers our consumers choice with access to a multitude of manufacturing brands.
How Enact can help with EVs
Enact’s energy advisors are here to help clean energy consumers like you. Our team creates customized solar systems for your needs. All we need is some basic information about your home, your utility bills, the EV you own or plan on buying and your average daily mileage.
While this sounds like a lot of information, it helps our advisors use your easily accessible information to design the best solar system for your home. Not all electric vehicles have the same battery capacity and every driver has different lifestyles. Our advisors want to create the best system to power your lifestyle.
Thinking of buying an EV?
If you already own a home solar energy system and are thinking about an EV — Enact has your back. Our home energy advisors can help you understand your current system and design needed additions to your current system. We can add more solar panels, a storage battery and a charging station to your existing system.
Let an Enact advisor know which vehicle you plan on purchasing and your average daily mileage. This information allows us to determine exactly what your current solar system needs so we can better serve you.
There are many reasons to own an EV, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported switching to an EV could save you between $500–$1,000 on fuel costs per year. EVs can also have less maintenance costs than comparable gasoline cars.
Our home energy advisors are here to help solar homeowners with any energy-affecting home improvement. Whether it’s an electric vehicle, electric appliances or a solar pool — our advisors can help you upgrade your solar system.
Using Enact’s award-winning platform, we can design system upgrades based on your current system and future energy needs. Next, Enact will coordinate the installation process for you.
Schedule a free consultation and see how Enact can help you upgrade your solar and storage system.
How solar benefits EV owners
The financial benefits of solar for EV
Solar energy provides low-cost energy to power electric vehicles. Rooftop panels harness abundant sunlight to produce electricity. As your system produces electricity, you’re using less electricity from the power grid to power your home and vehicle. Think of solar panels as an investment, which pays for itself over time through low-cost electricity.
Electric vehicles use as much electricity as some appliances, meaning your utility bill will increase after switching to an EV. While EV charging can still be cheaper than the costs of gasoline, you can lower your costs using solar energy.
While the initial costs may seem counterintuitive, solar panels have warranties that can last up to 25 years. Along with federal tax incentives, solar has become more affordable and consumers have even more choices. Every kilowatt generated from your system means less comes from the power grid, plus in some states you can sell energy to the power grid through Net Metering policies.
How solar makes EV more sustainable
Rooftop solar panels produce clean energy with no carbon emissions, which reduces your carbon footprint. By powering your electric car with solar energy, you’re not relying on fossil fuels. In the U.S., most of our electricity is generated through the burning of fossil fuels. These nonrenewable sources pollute our atmosphere and wreak havoc on our planet.
Both EVs and solar energy are environmentally friendly options. When charged with solar energy, the environmental impact of driving an EV reduces your carbon footprint. You can maximize your investment in sustainability by powering your vehicle with clean, solar energy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge my EV with solar panels?
Electric vehicles can be charged with energy from solar panels. Solar energy provides a clean, renewable source of electricity which can significantly power your vehicle. Both your solar panels and EV charger need to be connected to your home.
Enact helps EV owners by offering custom solar designs, specified to their home and vehicle. Through Enact, your home or business can have a custom solar system installed in ten weeks.
How many solar panels do I need for my EV?
The number of solar panels you need for your EV depends on a number of factors. The type of vehicle you own, your daily mileage and the type of solar panels. Sources on the Internet vary, but estimates typically fall between 5-12 solar panels for an electric car when considering daily usage.
The exact number is dependent on the EV’s battery capacity, how often you drive it and how long you drive it. This is why it’s best to tell an Enact home advisor about which electric vehicle you own and how often you drive so we can design the best system for you.
Do I need a storage battery for my EV?
A storage battery stores unused solar electricity, which helps homeowners get the most out of their investment. Storage batteries are sometimes called solar batteries. This can help ensure your EV is powered from clean, solar energy.
EV owners could benefit from a battery because it allows them to store solar-generated electricity for night time usage. Storage batteries also help EV owners charge their vehicles with clean energy stored from their solar panels, instead of energy from the power grid.
If you want a storage battery for your home, Enact’s home energy advisors can help you install a battery for your home. Our designs can integrate with new or existing solar systems and help you use clean energy for your EV.
Do I need a smart EV charger for solar?
No, you do not need a smart charging station to power your EV through solar. However, solar-generated electricity will unevenly power your home, appliances and your EV without a smart charger. This is because solar energy has to be quickly used or sent to the power grid, unless you have a storage battery.
The standard solar system installation is unlikely to completely charge your EV battery and home, your vehicle can be powered from both the grid and your system. A smart charging station allows you to decide how much solar-generated electricity you use to power your vehicle. Even without a smart charger, a custom solar system is still a good idea because it lowers your energy costs and reduces your carbon footprint.
If you want a smart charging station for your home, Enact’s home energy advisors can help you install the right station for your home. Our designs can integrate with new or existing solar systems and meet your needs