Powering Your Electric Car with Solar
Today, I will answer a question we are frequently asked by our customers: “I just got an electric car and want to ensure it runs on your solar panels’ clean, green energy?”
Transitioning to an electric vehicle (EV) after already adopting solar power for your home is a commendable step towards sustainability. But with this addition, ensuring your solar system can keep up is crucial. The solution might be more straightforward than you think: adding just one solar panel.
Harnessing the Sun for Your New Electric Vehicle
While solar panels for your home are a significant energy-saving measure, electric cars, depending on their make and model, can consume considerable power. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Energy Consumption: On average, an electric car might use anywhere from 250 to 500 watt-hours per mile. A typical solar panel, meanwhile, produces about 250-300 watts in an hour under optimal conditions.
2. Daily Commute: Let’s say you drive 30 miles a day. This could mean your car might consume between 7.5kWh to 15kWh daily. Over a month, this can add up.
3. Extra Solar Power Needed: Adding one more solar panel can generate an additional 1.5kWh to 2.4kWh per day, depending on your location and panel efficiency; this can substantially offset the energy requirement of your electric car.
Benefits of Powering Your EV with Solar
1. Cost Savings: Fueling your car with solar energy can be significantly cheaper than using the grid, especially if you live in areas with high electricity rates.
2. Reduced Carbon Footprint: Powering your EV with solar energy means driving on pure, green power, reducing your carbon footprint.
3. Increased Home Value: An upgraded solar system that powers a home and an electric car can be an appealing selling point if you ever decide to move.
You’ve Already Switched to an EV, Let’s Now Switch to Solar!
Upgrading your existing solar system is easier than it might seem. Here’s a simple approach:
1. Energy Audit: Calculate your electric car’s energy consumption based on your daily mileage.
2. Solar Assessment: Determine how much additional energy your current solar setup needs to produce.
3. Installation: Add the necessary solar panels to your system.
4. Enjoy: Now sit back and enjoy the benefits of solar power for your home and EV!
Ready to Drive on Sunshine, South Florida?
Transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle with a solar-powered home and an electric vehicle is exciting. If you live in South Florida and are contemplating this shift or have already taken the plunge with an EV, you might be just one panel away from harnessing the sun to its fullest.
Reach out to Synergy Solar today for a free estimate on what it’ll take to upgrade your solar panel system and ensure your electric car runs as sustainably as your home. Let’s hit the road, powered by the sun!
Article Written by Roberto De Solar
Editor at Synergy
Synergy is a leading solar installer in Miami & South Florida
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