EV Charging with Solar Panels: Complete Guide

Combining solar panels with an EV charger creates one of the most compelling home energy setups available today. Instead of paying 30p or more per kWh at public charging stations, you drive on electricity generated for free from your own roof. Here is how to make it work.

How Solar EV Charging Works

During daylight hours, your solar panels generate electricity. Your home uses what it needs first — lights, appliances, the kettle — and any surplus goes to your EV charger if your car is plugged in. With a smart charger and compatible solar inverter, the system can automatically direct surplus solar to EV charging, maximising use of your own generation.

Sizing Your Solar System for EV Charging

The average UK driver covers approximately 7,500 miles per year, consuming approximately 2,000 to 2,500 kWh of electricity for their EV. To power both your home and your EV primarily from solar, you need a larger system. As a guide: a 4kW system suits a home without an EV, a 6kW system suits a home with one average-mileage EV, and an 8kW or larger system suits a high-mileage EV driver.

In winter you will not generate enough solar to cover all your driving. The goal is to cover most EV charging from solar during summer, reducing grid dependence year-round.

Choosing the Right EV Charger

Look for a charger with solar integration — brands like Zappi actively communicate with your solar inverter to detect surplus generation and modulate charging current accordingly. A minimum charging mode of 1.4kW (6A) allows solar charging even when surplus is modest. Smart scheduling for overnight off-peak tariffs adds further value.

Adding Battery Storage

A home battery transforms the solar-EV combination. During the day, surplus solar charges the battery. In the evening, your car charges from stored solar energy — effectively delaying daytime generation for when you need to charge. A 10kWh battery can store enough solar from a good summer day to provide a meaningful charge for most EVs.

Annual Savings

At 30p per kWh grid electricity, 2,000 kWh of EV charging per year costs £600. If 60% of that comes from free solar electricity, you save £360 on EV charging alone — combined with household solar savings of £800 or more, the total exceeds £1,100 per year.

We design and install solar and EV charger packages across all of Yorkshire. Call 0333 577 5464 or contact us online to discuss your requirements.