Charging an EV with Solar

The Smart Way to Power Your Electric Car at Home

As more homeowners switch to electric vehicles, many are asking the same question:

“Can you charge an EV with solar panels?”

The answer is yes – and it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce your transport costs while making better use of the renewable energy your home generates.

At SolarTherm UK, we help homeowners across Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and the wider South East and East Anglia design complete energy systems that combine solar panels, battery storage and intelligent EV chargers. By integrating these technologies, you can significantly reduce your reliance on expensive grid electricity while enjoying cleaner, greener driving.

Whether you’re planning your first electric vehicle or already own one, here’s everything you need to know about charging an EV with solar.

Can You Charge an EV Using Solar Panels?

Absolutely. Your solar panels generate electricity whenever there is daylight. Instead of exporting all of that electricity back to the grid, your home can use it to power appliances – including your solar charger for your electric vehicle.

Modern smart EV chargers can prioritise solar generation, automatically adjusting the charging speed depending on how much surplus solar energy is available. This means rather than paying for electricity from your supplier, your car is being charged using renewable energy generated directly from your roof.

This process is know as solar EV charging, and it’s becoming one of the most popular reasons homeowners invest in solar.

How Does Solar EV Charging Work?

A typical solar EV charging system includes:

• Solar PV panels
• A hybrid or string inverter
• A smart EV charger
• Optional home battery storage
• Smart monitoring software

Throughout the day, solar panels generate electricity, your home uses the energy where it needs it first. Any surplus electricity is directed to your solar charger and if your vehicle is plugged in, it begins charging automatically. Remaining excess electricity is then either stored in a battery or exported through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

Everything happens automatically, allowing your home to maximise self-consumption without constant manual adjustments.

Why More Homeowners Are Choosing Solar EV Charging

Lower Running Costs

Charging an electric vehicle from the grid is still significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel but charging from your own solar panels can reduce costs even further.

Depending on your driving habits, many homeowners can cover a substantial proportion of their annual mileage using electricity generated at home. The more solar energy you use yourself, the faster your solar investment pays for itself.

Better Return on Your Solar Investment

Without an EV, some households export a large percentage of their surplus solar electricity. An electric vehicle effectively becomes a large battery on wheels, allowing you to consume far more of the energy your system generates.

Higher self-consumption means greater energy independence, reduced electricity imports, resulting in an improved overall return on investment and even lower electricity bills.

Reduced Carbon Emissions

Charging with solar allows your vehicle to run using renewable electricity rather than energy generated from fossil fuels. For environmentally conscious homeowners, combining solar panels with an EV is one of the simplest ways to reduce household carbon emissions while supporting the UK’s transition towards cleaner energy.

Do You Need Battery Storage?

No, but it can make solar EV charging even more effective. Without battery storage, your vehicle benefits most when charging during daylight hours while solar panels are producing electricity. Adding a home battery allows excess daytime solar generation to be stored for later use.

This means you can:

• Charge your EV overnight using stored solar energy
• Reduce grid imports after sunset
• Increase self-consumption of your solar generation
• Improve resilience during peak electricity pricing

At SolarTherm UK, we regularly install integrated battery systems alongside EV chargers to maximise household savings.

Choosing the Right Solar Charger

Not every EV charger is designed to work seamlessly with solar. For homeowners wanting to maximise renewable energy, intelligent chargers provide the greatest benefits.

SolarTherm UK installs trusted smart charging solutions including Project EV and myenergi Zappi, both of which offer dedicated solar charging modes.

Features include:

• Solar only charging
• Eco charging modes
• Automatic charging optimisation
• Schedules off peak charging
• Smartphone app control
• Real time energy monitoring

These systems intelligently decide whether electricity should come from your solar panels, home battery or the grid depending on your preferences.

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?

Every home is different. The ideal system depends on:

• Annual electricity usage
• EV mileage
• Roof size
• Roof orientation
• Available roof space
• Future plans

For many households across the South East and East Anglia, systems between 4kW and 6kW provide an excellent balance between home electricity use and regular EV charging. A professional survey ensures your system is correctly sized to maximise performance throughout the year.

Does Solar EV Charging Work During Winter?

Yes. Although solar panels generate less electricity during shorter winter days, they continue producing energy even in cloudy weather. Modern smart chargers automatically supplement solar generation with grid electricity whenever required, ensuring your vehicle always charges reliably.

During spring, summer and autumn, many homeowners see significantly higher levels of solar powered charging as generation increases.

Why Professional Installation Matters

Integrating solar panels, battery storage and EV charging requires careful electrical design.

A professionally installed system ensures:

• Safe operation
• Maximum efficiency
• Future expandability
• Compliance with UK regulations
• Manufacturer warranty protection

SolarTherm UK have over 16 years of experience delivering residential solar installations throughout Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and the wider South East and East Anglia.

As MCS certified and NICEIC approved installers, we design every system around each property’s energy requirements rather than offering one size fits all packages.

Our experienced team provides advice on:

• Solar panel sizing
• EV charger selection
• Battery storage options
• Smart energy tariffs
• Future proofing your home energy system

Is Charging an EV with Solar Worth It?

For many homeowners, the answer is yes. Combining solar panels with a smart EV charger allows you to:

• Reduce transport costs
• Make better use of your solar generation
• Increase energy independence
• Lower household carbon emissions
• Improve the long term return on your solar investment

As electric vehicles become increasingly common, integrating solar EV charging into your home energy system is becoming one of the smartest investments you can make.

If you’re considering solar panels, an EV charger or a complete renewable energy solution, SolarTherm UK can help. Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice – and the time you need to make an informed decision.

Your home. Your energy. Your future.

Frequently Asked Questions