Using your solar panels to charge your electric car? We look at the different aspects of this winning duo.
There are many benefits to charging your electric car with your solar panel installation. But how exactly does this work? If you do not yet have solar panels on your roof, then the correct dimensioning of your future installation is very important. In order to calculate the correct dimensions, our energy consultants always ask you what your annual consumption is and whether there are any other large consumers in your household. This could be e.g. a sauna, heated swimming pool, heat pump or an electric car.
How big does my solar panel installation need to be to charge my electric vehicle?
The yield of an average solar panel installation is between 3000 and 5000 kWh. If we are going to take into account charging an electric car, then it is recommended to increase the production area of your installation by about 50%. An electric car of an average Belgian family consumes about 1500 to 3000kWh of electricity per year. However, practice shows that you do not charge your car only at home. Some charge at work or via charging stations on public roads. Today you may not have an electric car yet, but who knows, maybe you are considering buying one in a few years. So think carefully before installing solar panels, our energy advisors will be happy to help.
What is the best time to charge my electric vehicle?
Given current conditions, many people work from home. Your solar panels have the highest yield peak around noon. The best situation is to match your car's charging times with your home's solar production. Only this is not easy for everyone. People who are not home during the day then certainly benefit from a home battery. Then you can use the stored energy in the evening to charge your car.
Are electric cars really the right choice for the future of our planet?
People have quite a few prejudices when talking about electric vehicles. Are these vehicles really as ecological as everyone claims?
There is a constant evolution in the automotive world. Billions of dollars are being invested in new battery technologies. These are becoming ever more compact, powerful and cheaper to produce. The other side of the coin, of course, is that the production of such batteries involves massive mining of raw materials such as Cobalt and Lithium that correspondingly leave a scar on our globe.
Now, this is a growing market, we therefore need to consider future technological developments and the energy structure to develop more and more renewable energy sources.
Of course, it is important to pay attention to carbon dioxide emissions. Now it is true that in the most polluted cities most people die from particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Currently, electric vehicles are the alternative of choice to fossil fuels. The more electric cars, the less CO2 emissions, the better our air quality.
In addition, using solar panels to generate electricity is also good for the environment. The sun is a free, inexhaustible source of energy. The more we use this form of energy to charge our cars, the more grateful our planet will be.
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