Charging your electric vehicle at home
When it comes to charging an electric vehicle at home, car owners traditionally use grid power, solar panels or solar energy with a household battery. Ballarat Solar Group is here to explain the pros and cons of each.
1. Grid power
The most common way to charge an electric vehicle, like other home appliances.
A standard power point (2.3kW) adds 10-15km of range per hour, ideal for daily short driving. A dedicated home wall charger (7-11kW) adds 40-70km of ranger per hour and is popular for electric vehicle owners.
This method avoids any up-front solar panel or battery costs, works day and night and is a simple installation. However, charging costs will depend on electricity prices and grid electricity may not be renewable.
2. Solar panels
Through this method, the electric vehicle charges using excess rooftop solar during daylight hours, with any shortfall topped up from the grid.
This can reduce charging costs to near zero during sunny days, cuts emissions and includes no battery expense. However, this method only works well if electric vehicle owners are home during the day or the vehicle can delay charging until solar output peaks.
3. Solar panels and a household battery
Batteries traditionally make sense if electric vehicle owners generate lots of excess solar, want to charge the vehicle at night using stored solar or value blackout backup or energy independence.
Positively, this route maximises the use of solar energy, includes night time solar charging, benefits backup power and the Australian Government offer rebates for battery purchases. The downsides are the high up-front costs and longer payback periods.
Decision guide
When it comes to making a decision, Ballarat Solar Group suggests that grid power is suitable for electric vehicle owners who drive modest distances, have off-peak electricity and are chasing the lowest up-front cost.
Solar panels should be considered if electric vehicle owners are home during the day, already use solar energy for the house and want the lowest running cost.
Batteries are an ideal addition if electric vehicle owners value energy independence or blackout protection, already have solar panels and are thinking about long-term savings.
Get in touch with the team at Ballarat Solar Group to see what is possible for your home with solar power.
To see the variety of work that we do, visit our latest news page to view our completed jobs.
Get in touch and see how we can assist you with your solar or battery installations in the Ballarat area.
We take care of all the rebates. Contact us to discuss your eligibility and maximising State and Federal Rebates.
- Cheaper Homes Battery Program Rebate
- Solar Victoria Solar Homes Panel Rebate
Phone: 1300 449458
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