{"id":11895,"date":"2025-02-18T20:21:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T20:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/?p=11895"},"modified":"2025-02-18T20:21:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T20:21:01","slug":"why-electric-vehicles-and-solar-panels-are-a-dynamic-duo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solar.com\/learn\/why-electric-vehicles-and-solar-panels-are-a-dynamic-duo\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Electric Vehicles and Solar Panels are a Dynamic Duo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are solar-powered cars possible? Absolutely \u2014 but it may not be what you’re picturing.<\/p>\n

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) roughly 25% of American Electric Vehicle (EV) owners also have solar at home<\/em>. If you\u2019re in the market for an EV or recently purchased one you might also be considering whether solar is right for you. So why have so many homeowners invested in EVs and home solar? <\/span><\/p>\n

Well, let\u2019s run the math.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Car Fuel Math: Gas vs Electric<\/b><\/h2>\n

If the average car gets 25 mpg and the average cost of gas is $3.50\/gallon, that means the fuel cost per mile for the average internal combustion engine car is 14 cents per mile. Doesn\u2019t seem like a lot but it adds up to $50 or more every time you fill your car up at the pump.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home with solar? The math is a bit different. The average EV gets 3 to 4 miles per kilowatt hour (kWh). We know from our solar experience that the average home can amortize out the investment in solar to about 8 cents per kWh, which means your \u201cfuel\u201d expense is around 2 cents per mile \u2014 a fraction of paying at the pump.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the average American driving 14,000 miles per year, that adds up to nearly $1,700 in annual fuel cost savings. These savings are likely to increase each year as the cost of gasoline rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Fuel Source<\/td>\nFuel Cost per Mile<\/td>\nAnnual Fuel Cost<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gas Pump<\/td>\n14 cents<\/td>\n$1,960<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Home Solar<\/td>\n2 cents<\/td>\n$280<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

But not everyone has solar, which means they charge their car at home by purchasing power from their utility. Utility rates vary dramatically by location<\/a>, and even time of day in some areas, but if you\u2019re paying more than 24 cents per kWh then you\u2019re about cost-neutral with buying gas at the pump.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And homeowners feel this. The average utility bill goes up 40% after buying an EV because of the increased consumption in charging their car. While EVs offer benefits over ICE vehicles, most homeowners might find they\u2019re simply shifting their fuel costs from the pump to their electric utility without investing in home electrification.<\/p>\n

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Why Don\u2019t We Put Solar Panels on Top of Cars?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The simple answer is space constraints. It takes between 5-12 solar panels to fully power an EV<\/a>, depending on how much you drive and your sun exposure. So, instead of putting panels on cars, more and more EV drivers are installing solar panels and EV charging at their homes<\/em> to create their own personal solar-powered EV charging stations.<\/p>\n

Together, rooftop solar and EV charging make a dynamic duo. In addition to the fuel cost savings outlined above, advantages include:<\/p>\n