EV Charging With Solar Panels

Pairing solar panels with an electric vehicle charger is one of the most compelling energy investments a homeowner can make. When your car charges from electricity generated by your own roof, you are driving on free fuel — and the economics only get more attractive as petrol prices and electricity tariffs continue to rise.

A typical electric car uses around 3,500 kWh of electricity per year to cover 10,000 miles. A 4kW solar panel system in Wiltshire generates approximately 3,920 kWh annually. In theory, your solar panels can generate enough electricity to drive your car for an entire year with surplus to spare. In practice, timing matters — your car is often away when the sun is shining — but smart chargers and battery storage solve this elegantly.

How Solar EV Charging Works

Smart EV chargers like the myenergi Zappi have a built-in feature called "solar divert" or "eco mode." The charger monitors your solar panel output in real time and automatically adjusts the charging rate to match your surplus generation. When your panels are producing more than your home is using, the excess flows directly to your car instead of being exported to the grid.

This is significantly more valuable than exporting. The Smart Export Guarantee pays around 10.8p per kWh for exported electricity, but using that same kWh to charge your car saves you 24-30p per kWh (the cost of buying grid electricity) or more. You are effectively tripling the value of every surplus kWh by putting it in your car.

Do I Need a Battery Too?

Not necessarily. A smart EV charger can divert solar directly to your car without a battery. However, if your car is away during the day (common for commuters), a battery lets you store daytime solar and charge your car in the evening when you return home — still using free electricity.

The optimal setup depends on your routine. If your car is at home during the day (working from home, retired, second car), a solar-integrated charger without a battery works brilliantly. If your car is usually away during peak solar hours, adding a battery closes the timing gap.

Charger Recommendations

For solar integration, we recommend the myenergi Zappi as our go-to choice. Its eco mode and boost mode give you complete flexibility — charge from solar when available, boost from the grid when you need a quick top-up. The Ohme Home Pro is an excellent alternative with superior smart tariff integration, automatically charging during the cheapest grid periods.

For period properties or conservation areas, the Andersen A2 with its wooden housing is a thoughtful choice that blends with traditional architecture.