So maybe you bought an electric vehicle (EV) because you care about the environment, but to really make an impact using solar power to charge your new EV is the way to go. Charging an EV will use somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 kilowatthours (kWh) per year, depending on the vehicle. That’s a lot of electricity. Without solar panels that electricity is generated in one of many ways, most of which are not great for our environment. An EV is only as good for the environment as the source of electricity used to power it.
How Many Solar Panels Does it Take to Charge an EV?
Three key pieces of information are required to determine the number of solar panels you need to charge an EV:
- The annual electricity consumption of your vehicle.
- The total wattage of the solar panels you intend to install.
- The production ratio of your panels, indicating their efficiency in generating electricity based on your location.
Now that you have this information you can use the following formula:
Number of panels = system size / production ratio / panel wattage
Now, let’s perform the calculations for the average American driver:
A typical EV consumes approximately 4,000 to 5,000 kWh of electricity per year.
The most commonly cited solar panels are rated at 390 to 400 watts. For this example, we’ll consider 400 W panels.
Production ratios for solar in the U.S. generally range between 1.1 and 1.6, contingent on the region’s solar conditions. Sunnier locales, like California, typically boast higher production ratios compared to regions like the Northeast.
Applying these values to the formula:
Number of panels = 4,000-5,000 kWh / 1.1 or 1.6 / 400 W
Consequently, to charge an electric vehicle, you will typically need 7 to 12 solar panels, depending on the total number installed on your home and the specific conditions of your location.
Number of solar panels required to charge popular EVs
| Company | Model | Number Of Panels Required |
|---|---|---|
| Rivian | R1S | 10 |
| Tesla | Model X | 8 |
| Ford | F-150 Lightning Pro | 11 |
| Audi | Q4 e-tron | 8 |
| Hyundai | Ioniq 5 SE | 7 |
| Tesla | Model Y | 7 |
| Volkswagen | ID.4 | 7 |
| Nissan | LEAF S | 7 |
How Much Electricity Does an EV Use?
The electricity consumption of an electric vehicle (EV) varies based on your driving habits, whether it’s daily, monthly, or yearly. This consumption is primarily determined by the distance you travel. For instance:
If you reside in an urban area and drive infrequently, your electricity needs will be lower compared to someone living in a suburban or rural area who commutes daily.
The Federal Highway Administration states the average American drives nearly 13,500 miles each year. At this mileage, most EVs typically require approximately 4,000 to 5,000 kWh of electricity annually to operate efficiently.
Annual electricity usage of popular EV models
| Company | Model | KWh/100 Mi | Annual Electricity Usage (k Wh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian | R1S | 43 | 5,805 |
| Tesla | Model X | 33 | 4,455 |
| Ford | F-150 Lightning Pro | 49 | 6,615 |
| Audi | Q4 e-tron | 33 | 4,455 |
| Hyundai | Ioniq 5 SE | 30 | 4,050 |
| Tesla | Model Y | 28 | 3,780 |
| Volkswagen | ID.4 | 31 | 4,185 |
| Nissan | LEAF S | 30 | 4,050 |
Additional Benefits of Using Solar Panels to Charge Your EV
Charging your EV with solar can benefit you both financially and environmentally.
- Reduce your electricity bill
- Reduce your carbon footprint
- Reduce strain on the power grid
- Never get stuck if there’s a power outage