Charging station at home on solar panels
Driving electric is already a sustainable choice, but if you home charging station runs on solar panels, you are even more environmentally friendly. You will be driving on self-generated solar energy, with no greenhouse gases emitted to generate your electricity. Moreover, you will also save on costs, and you will notice that in your wallet. But how exactly does a solar-powered charging station work? In this article, we explain it to you.
How does a solar-powered charging station work?
If you have solar panels on your home, you can use the energy generated to charge your electric car. This works as follows: in the summer months you naturally generate more power than in the winter months. Therefore, you can feed excess power back to the power company. At the end of the year, the returned power is deducted from your electricity consumption. You then pay only the number of kWh remaining. This is called the net-metering scheme. Of course, your electric car is charged with power from the grid, but because you generate more than you used, you can feed it back and the two amounts are offset against each other. Simply put: all the kilowatt-hours you feed back, you can use for free when the sun isn't shining. Of course, this does not apply if you consume more than you have produced.
Please note that starting in 2023, the balancing scheme will be slowly phased out. This means that each year you will receive less back for the excess power you generate and feed back to the power company.
How many solar panels are needed to charge an electric car?
How many solar panels you need to charge your electric car depends on how many kilowatt hours your car uses per kilometer and how many kilometers you drive per year. It is also important whether you always charge your car at home, or whether you sometimes use a charging station at your workplace, for example. How many solar panels you can best install again depends on the type of panel and the location of the solar panels in relation to the sun. For the average electric car, you need about 8 solar panels. This will allow you to drive all year on solar energy.
Benefits of charging station on solar panels
A solar-powered charging station has a number of advantages.
- It's even more beneficial than a home charging station without solar panels
Every kilowatt hour you generate with your solar panels does not show up on your final electricity bill. So you save on energy costs. Solar panels are, of course, an investment, but you earn them back relatively quickly this way - You drive on real green power
All energy generated by solar panels is completely renewable. No greenhouse gases have been emitted to generate the electricity. - You can use the solar panels for more than just charging your car
Thanks to the solar panels, you are self-sufficient in energy. If energy prices rise, you will not suffer. Moreover, this way solar panels pay for themselves within about 7 years.
Related pages about electric cars
Never underinsured
Put together your own package
A wide range
We compare all insurers for you, saves time again
Help from our experts
Can't figure it out? Our experts are always ready to help you
We can be reached via chat, WhatsApp, phone or email
Questions? Contact us if you want to know more.
We are here Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00.