Homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint are likely considering alternate sources of energy such as solar power and zero-emission transportation like electric cars. Fortunately, solar panels and electric cars and are a match made in heaven.
Similar to the way an electric vehicle (EV) does not contribute to pollution, generate savings by reducing mileage costs, and avoiding the ever-rising price of fuel, solar panels can help save you a lot of money each month by converting sunlight into electricity that does not rely on your local electric grid.
However, before you go out and buy a solar panel system to charge your EV, you need to know the amount of electricity it consumes, if you can use solar energy to charge it, and how many solar panels you would need to power both your EV and your home.
How Much Energy Does Your Electric Car Need?
Not only can a residential solar panel system power your home and all of your appliances, but it can also sufficiently charge your EV for emission-free transportation.
Before you can decide on the size of your solar energy system, you should determine the amount of electricity your car needs. Also, find out your electric car’s mileage rating to determine the amount which you can save by shifting to solar power. Find out how many kilo-hours it consumes to drive 100 miles. Once you have determined your vehicle’s kWh, you can now calculate how many solar panels you will need to fully charge your car. For example, an electric car with a rating of 40 kWh/100 miles needs 40 kWh to drive 100 miles.
How Many Solar Panels You Would Need to Power Both Your EV and Home?
The number of solar panels you require depends on your usage and your physical location. Solar panel energy production varies and depends on the amount of sun on a particular day. An average home uses around 25 kWh per day. Having an EV will increase this amount by 9 kWh per day. This will total to around 35 kWh consumption per day. Even a medium solar panel array of only 20 solar panels can produce enough energy to simultaneously charge your vehicle’s battery and home consumption.
Armed with this data, you can confidently begin researching solar panel providers for help choosing the right residential solar panel system for your needs and budget.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with a Solar Panel System
If you want to install a solar panel system on your property, contact the professionals at PES Solar. We will help you estimate the price and size of the solar panel system you need for your home. To find out how much you can save on solar panels that will generate enough power to charge both your electric car and your home, contact PES Solar today.
