You can charge an EV with solar panels, and for many Australian households it cuts the day-to-day cost of driving to a few cents per kilometre.
If you already have rooftop solar or are thinking about installing it, an EV charger gives you another way to use your generation at home. The electricity is not quite free because exported solar earns a feed-in credit, but putting it into the car is usually worth far more than exporting it and buying grid power later.
Here is how to size a solar and EV charging setup around your driving.
SolaXs installs solar systems and EV chargers on the Mid North Coast. Ask for a quote covering both solar and EV charging so the array, switchboard and charger are designed as one system.
How EV Charging From Solar Panels Works
Solar panels generate DC electricity during daylight hours. Your inverter converts that to AC power, which flows to your home loads, including an EV charger plugged into the circuit.
When your solar panels are producing more power than your house is using, the surplus goes to the EV charger. If production drops below what the charger needs, the system draws the difference from the grid, unless you have a battery.
There are three common ways to charge an EV from solar:
- Direct solar charging: Plug in during the day and let excess solar flow to the car. Cheapest setup, works with any EV charger.
- Solar + battery: Store daytime solar in a home battery, then charge the EV in the evening. This is more flexible but has a higher upfront cost.
- Smart charger with solar tracking: A smart EV charger that adjusts its charge rate based on available solar production, avoiding grid draw entirely.
For many households, direct daytime charging is the simplest option. If the car is home, plug it in while the system has surplus solar.
What Size Solar System Do You Need to Charge an EV
Start with your own driving rather than an Australian average. If your EV uses 15 to 20 kWh per 100 km, a 40 km day needs about 6 to 8 kWh. Check the consumption figure for your model on the Australian Government Green Vehicle Guide, then multiply it by your usual daily kilometres.
A 6.6 kW solar system on the Mid North Coast produces roughly 25 to 30 kWh per day in summer and 15 to 18 kWh in winter. That is more than enough to cover daily driving and still power the rest of the house.
| Solar system size | Daily production (Mid North Coast avg) | Enough for daily EV charging? |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | 18 to 22 kWh | Yes, with careful timing on higher-use days |
| 6.6 kW | 25 to 30 kWh | Yes, comfortably covers home + EV |
| 10 kW | 38 to 45 kWh | Yes, excess for battery or grid export |
| 13.2 kW | 50 to 58 kWh | Yes, suitable for two EVs or high-use homes |
If you already have a 6.6 kW system and are adding an EV, you may not need to upsize. Check a few weeks of export data across different weather. If your regular daytime surplus covers the car’s daily energy use, it can go straight into the car; if it does not, compare that shortfall with the cost of upgrading an existing solar system. Not sure what size solar system you need? Start with your household load and driving habits.
Choosing an EV Charger for Solar
Not all EV chargers work equally well with solar. The difference comes down to whether the charger can match its draw rate to your solar production.
- Standard (dumb) charger: Draws a fixed rate (usually 7 kW or 32A). If your solar is only producing 3 kW at that moment, the rest comes from the grid. A dedicated 7kW EV charger is still the most common home setup.
- Smart charger with solar integration: Measures the power flowing to and from the grid, then adjusts charging to use the available surplus. The Ocular EV charger range, GoodWe HCA chargers and Sigenergy EV chargers can all form part of a solar-aware home energy setup. The right choice depends on your inverter, phases and whether you want battery integration.
- Portable charger (granny charger): Plugs into a standard 10A socket. Charges slowly at about 2.3 kW, which is easy for a solar system to cover but takes 20+ hours for a full charge.
A smart EV charger with a solar-only mode is the clearest way to minimise grid draw. Single-phase AC charging generally needs about 1.4 kW before a charging session can run, so a charger may pause or blend in grid power when the available surplus falls below that level. Check how each model handles this threshold rather than assuming every “solar” mode means zero grid use.
If you charge during the day while you are at work, a timer on a standard 7 kW charger can achieve a similar result. Set it to charge between 10am and 2pm when solar production peaks.
Solar EV charger comparison
| Charger option | Typical AC output | Solar and load features | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard single-phase wall charger | Up to 7 kW | Timer or app scheduling | Regular daytime window and simple setup |
| Ocular smart charger | 7 kW or 22 kW, model dependent | Solar integration available; strong outdoor rating on selected models | Mid North Coast homes wanting a practical standalone charger |
| GoodWe HCA | Single-phase and three-phase models | Solar-aware charging and app control within a compatible setup | Homes already using a compatible GoodWe energy system |
| Sigenergy EV AC charger | Up to 22 kW, supply and vehicle dependent | Dynamic load adjustment and battery integration in the Sigenergy ecosystem | Homes planning an integrated solar, battery and EV system |
| Three-phase home EV charger | Up to 22 kW | Varies by model | Long daily distances, multiple EVs or short charging windows |
| Portable charger | About 2.3 kW on a 10A outlet | No solar tracking | Occasional use after an electrician confirms the outlet is suitable |
Unit prices do not tell you the installed cost. Cable length, switchboard work, load management, phase configuration and the mounting position can change the quote, so compare installed proposals on the same scope rather than picking the cheapest wall unit.
How Much Money You Save Charging an EV With Solar
The cost of charging depends on the car’s efficiency and your electricity plan. At 18 kWh per 100 km, a grid rate of 30 cents per kWh works out to $5.40 per 100 km. Solar charging has an opportunity cost too: it gives up the feed-in credit you would have received for exporting that energy.
For a household driving 15,000 km per year, the comparison looks like this:
| Energy source | Example cost per 100 km | Example annual cost at 15,000 km |
|---|---|---|
| Grid at 20c/kWh off-peak | $3.60 | $540 |
| Grid at 30c/kWh | $5.40 | $810 |
| Grid at 45c/kWh peak | $8.10 | $1,215 |
| Solar at a 3.4 to 6.5c/kWh foregone feed-in credit | $0.61 to $1.17 | $92 to $176 |
These examples use an EV consumption of 18 kWh per 100 km. Replace that figure and the tariff with your own numbers before estimating a payback period. Regular solar charging can still offset the cost of installing a home EV charger, but the result depends on how often the car is parked at home in daylight.
For 2026-27, IPART’s all-day NSW feed-in tariff benchmark is 3.4 to 6.5 cents per kWh. Retail offers vary. If your alternative is buying electricity later at 30 cents per kWh, using one surplus solar kWh in the car avoids 30 cents of grid energy while giving up only your actual export credit. That gap is the financial reason to schedule the car around solar.
Battery Storage and EV Charging After Dark
Solar production may have tapered off by the time the car arrives home. A home battery stores daytime solar for evening use, but charging the car uses capacity that would otherwise supply the house.
- A 10 kWh battery stores enough for a typical day of EV driving (6 to 8 kWh) plus some evening household use.
- A 13 kWh battery gives more headroom for heavier driving days or running the house overnight.
- Some EVs and chargers support bidirectional charging, but vehicle, charger, network and connection approval all have to match. Do not buy a system on a “V2H-ready” label alone.
If a battery is not in the budget yet, charging during the day is still the most effective strategy. Work-from-home days, weekends and a timer set to midday peak production all help. Check how much solar batteries cost to see whether storage makes sense for your setup.
What V2H and V2G can do
Vehicle-to-home (V2H) lets a compatible EV power household circuits. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) can also export from the car to the electricity network. In both cases, the car becomes a large mobile battery that can hold midday solar for evening household use.
V2G trials are expanding, but compatible vehicles and approved chargers remain limited. In May 2026, ARENA announced an expansion from 50 to 1,000 V2G households in an Australian project. Treat V2H as a future-planning question for your installer, not a standard feature of every EV charger sold today.
Incentive check, September 2026: The Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program still discounts eligible batteries, although its calculation changed on 1 May 2026. NSW no longer offers a general battery-installation discount. Its current support is an incentive for connecting an eligible battery to a virtual power plant, and that can be combined with the federal program. Eligibility and the final discount depend on the battery and provider, so confirm both at quote time.
Check the current rules on the official Cheaper Home Batteries Program page and the NSW VPP incentive page before signing a contract.
When comparing SolaXs solar packages, ask whether the proposed battery’s usable capacity and output suit both household loads and EV charging.
Get Solar and EV Charging Installed Together
Installing solar panels and an EV charger together lets the electrician size the circuits, metering and load controls around the same plan. SolaXs provides residential solar and home energy services across the Mid North Coast.
- Solar system sized to cover your home and EV charging needs
- EV charger installation with correct circuit protection and metering
- Battery-ready wiring if you want to add storage later
- Ongoing support through the Solar Care Plan
Contact SolaXs for a quote covering solar, battery and EV charger installation. Using one installer can simplify system design and support.
EV Charging on the Mid North Coast
EV drivers on the Mid North Coast often travel farther between towns and rely more heavily on home charging. That makes the weekly driving pattern more useful than a national daily average.
- Size for your longest regular day: Regional trips can be longer than city commutes, so use your own weekly kilometres and the car’s efficiency. A 7 kW charger can add about 7 kWh for each hour it runs, subject to the vehicle’s onboard AC limit.
- Solar pairing makes sense: Charging from your own residential solar system during the day can cost far less than grid charging. A timer or smart charger schedules charging to match surplus production.
- Three-phase matters for speed: If you have three-phase power, a 22 kW charger adds around 120 km of range per hour. Single-phase homes are limited to 7 kW, which adds roughly 40 km per hour.
- Weatherproofing: Check the charger’s stated IP rating and the manufacturer’s installation limits before choosing an outdoor position exposed to coastal rain and humidity.
SolaXs installs EV chargers across the Mid North Coast. We assess the electrical supply, recommend a charger and complete the installation.
EV Charging Tips for Mid North Coast Homeowners
Solar EV charging on the Mid North Coast changes with the season. Longer summer days give the car a wider charging window, while winter and wet weeks leave less surplus after normal household loads. Size from winter usage and allow for day-to-day variation rather than relying on one annual sun-hours figure.
- Charge during the solar window: Use inverter data to find when your own system has a reliable surplus, then set the charger around that window. It will shift across the seasons and on roofs with east or west-facing panels.
- Use your monitoring app: Check your inverter monitoring app to see how much surplus solar you export at the times the car is home. Compare your actual feed-in tariff with the import rate you would otherwise pay.
- Plan around your household loads: Stagger the pool pump, hot-water boost and EV charger on low-production days. Dynamic load management is better than a rigid timetable when air conditioning and other loads vary because it automatically reduces charger output before the main supply is overloaded.
- Consider your driving pattern: A full charge every day is rarely necessary. Work out the kWh used across a normal week, then decide whether small daily top-ups or a longer weekend session fits your routine.
- Check your electrical capacity: Older homes may need switchboard work or dynamic load control to support a 7 kW charger alongside existing loads. SolaXs checks this during every EV charger installation assessment.
The combination of solar panels and the right home EV charger can cut running costs substantially when the car is available during the solar window. The exact saving comes from your kilometres, vehicle efficiency, import tariff and lost feed-in credit, so use those four numbers rather than a generic lifetime-savings claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many solar panels do I need to charge an EV?
Use the car’s rated consumption and your daily distance. At 15 to 20 kWh per 100 km, driving 40 km uses about 6 to 8 kWh. With roughly 440 W panels, that annual energy is comparable to the output of about four to six well-sited panels, but the whole array must also cover the home, winter production and system losses. That is why a 6.6 kW solar system or 10 kW solar system is usually assessed against the complete household load, not the EV alone.
Can I charge my EV at night with solar?
Not directly, because panels are not generating after dark. A home solar battery can shift daytime generation into the evening, although charging the car from a battery adds conversion losses and uses storage the house may need overnight. Without a battery, use a daytime timer when the car is home or compare an off-peak EV tariff.
Is a 6.6 kW solar system enough to charge an EV?
It often is, but the answer depends on household consumption and when the car is home. Review exports through summer and winter. If the regular daytime surplus is close to the car’s daily kWh requirement, keep the existing system; if the house already uses nearly all solar production, a charger cannot create extra surplus.
Do I need a battery to charge my electric car from solar?
No. The simplest setup is direct solar charging during daylight hours. A battery adds flexibility for evening charging, but it is not required. If your routine changes later, read what is involved when you add a battery to an existing solar system before assuming the current inverter and switchboard are ready.
What is the cheapest way to charge an EV at home?
For a home with existing solar, charging during a genuine surplus is usually cheapest. Count the feed-in credit you give up, then compare it with your off-peak import tariff. The cheapest schedule may be solar-only during the day, a low overnight tariff, or a mix of both. Our guide to working out solar savings from your own usage explains why self-consumption matters.
Can a smart EV charger run entirely on solar?
Yes, if the charger has a true surplus-only mode, its meter is configured correctly and enough surplus is available to meet the minimum charging current. Models in the Ocular range, GoodWe EV charger range and Sigenergy range offer different ways to coordinate charging with solar. Ask the installer whether the chosen mode pauses below the threshold or blends in grid electricity.
For more information, see the Australian Government electric vehicles guide and the ARENA EV charging infrastructure resources.