Solar-powered EV charging explained (2026)
Charge your car with sunshine, not just the grid. Here’s how solar-powered EV charging works, what you actually need, and how to get the best results in 2026—without the jargon.
EVs already cut running costs. Pairing an EV with solar takes it a step further because you’re generating a chunk of your charging energy at home. That means less exposure to rising electricity prices, and more control over when and how you charge.
How solar-powered EV charging works
Your solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours. Your home uses that power first. If there’s extra solar available, a solar-aware EV charger can divert the surplus into your car instead of exporting it to the grid.
So rather than “solar powers the charger”, the real idea is:
solar powers the house → spare solar goes to the car.
On bright days, you can cover a meaningful share of your driving from solar. In winter, you’ll usually use more grid power. Either way, solar can reduce your overall charging costs over the year.
Do I need a battery for solar EV charging?
No. A battery is optional, not required.
Solar + EV charger (no battery)
This setup works best if your car is home during the day—like weekends, home working, or businesses with daytime parking. You’ll capture surplus solar as it’s produced.
Solar + battery + EV charger
A battery adds flexibility. It can store solar generated in the day and release it later, which helps if you mainly charge in the evening. It can also smooth out cloud cover and reduce your reliance on peak-rate electricity.
A battery can help you:
• shift solar into the evening
• reduce peak-rate imports
• keep essential circuits running during outages (if your system is designed for backup)
If you’re not sure, we’ll recommend the simplest setup that matches your driving pattern. No upsell, just what makes sense.
What if I already use a cheap overnight EV tariff?
Smart tariffs can be great. Solar doesn’t “replace” them—the best setups often use both.
A good approach is:
• use solar to top-up during the day when it’s available
• use off-peak electricity overnight when solar isn’t available
That combination usually delivers the lowest real-world cost per mile, year-round.
Do I need a special EV charger?
If you want the charger to intelligently use surplus solar, then yes—you’ll want a solar-aware charger.
These chargers can:
• detect solar export and match charging rate to spare generation
• pause or ramp charging up/down automatically
• switch between solar-priority and fast charging when you need it
We often install solar-aware models like myenergi Zappi, and we’ll suggest the best option based on your solar system, your car, and how you actually drive.
How fast can solar charge my EV?
It depends on three things:
1. your solar output (system size + time of year)
2. your charger and car’s charge rate
3. what else your building is using at the same time
In simple terms, solar charging is usually slower but cheaper. On strong solar days you can add a meaningful amount of range. On weaker days, you’ll still reduce grid usage, just not as dramatically.
If you want guaranteed fast charging every day, you can still do that—solar-aware chargers typically let you switch to “fast” mode and pull from the grid when needed.
Can I charge my EV during a power cut?
Sometimes—but only with the right equipment and design.
• Standard grid-tied solar shuts down during a blackout for safety reasons.
• If you add battery backup (EPS/backup circuits) you may be able to power essential loads during outages. EV charging may be possible, but it depends on your inverter capability and how the backup is configured.
If backup power is important to you, tell us upfront and we’ll design around it properly.
Solar + EV charging: what makes it “worth it”
If you drive regularly, your EV can be one of the biggest electrical loads in your home or business. Even shifting part of that to self-generated solar can:
• reduce your annual electricity spend
• increase your solar self-consumption (using more of what you generate)
• cut carbon footprint without changing how you live day-to-day
The win is usually biggest if:
• your car is home in daylight hours, or
• you’re happy using a mix of solar + off-peak charging, or
• you add a battery and want more evening flexibility
What we need to give you a fast, fixed quote
If you want a quick, accurate quote, these details help a lot:
your postcode
a photo of your consumer unit (fuse board) and meter area
your average electricity usage (annual kWh or a recent bill)
your EV make/model and typical miles per week
whether you want solar only, charger only, or solar + battery + charger
whether the car is usually home during the day
Don’t worry if you don’t have everything—we can still start with a rough outline and refine it.
Ready to charge your car with sunlight?
We design solar + EV charging systems that work together—built around your home, your car, and your routine. Request a free, fixed quote, or call 01752 916 013 to speak with the team.