One of the controversies generated by electric cars is that, although they do not pollute while driving, they do so during the generation of the electrical energy they consume. In this case, if solar energy could be used to recharge an electric vehicle, it would be 100% renewable. One of the doubts that arise is how many solar panels do I need to charge an electric car.
Therefore, in this article we are going to clear up all doubts about how many solar panels I need to charge an electric car.
Cars charged with solar panels
In recent years, the concept of powering electric vehicles using solar panels has gained significant momentum. The main driving force behind this trend is the growing apprehension regarding sustainability and the desire to reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources.
It is important to note that charging your vehicle at home using solar panels is a feasible option. However, it is essential to keep in mind that the installation of solar panels must meet specific minimum requirements in order to function correctly.
There are mainly two types of services that allow you to recharge your devices from the comfort of your home:
- A photovoltaic installation that operates independently is called isolated photovoltaic installation. This system takes advantage of the sun's energy through solar panels and stores it in powerful batteries. Although this method is not the most recommended for charging a car, as it does not depend on the electrical grid, it is still a viable option. However, this also means that charging the vehicle on days with minimal sunlight will prove to be a challenging task.
- Installation Self-consumption photovoltaic is a unique system that differs from previous models by being connected to the electrical grid. This feature allows an uninterrupted supply of energy to recharge electric vehicles, regardless of the availability of the sun. To optimize the use of this system, it is recommended to have a solar rate that compensates for excessive consumption.
How many solar panels do I need to charge an electric car?
Charging an electric vehicle using solar panels involves considering more than just the installation process. In addition to this, it is essential to take into account other factors such as the amount of energy needed to run the car, the speed and power of the charging process and the geographical location of the vehicle.
Before considering installing solar panels on your car, it is important to determine the amount of electricity your car consumes every 100 kilometers. On average, Electric cars consume between 14 and 21 kW per 100 kilometers. In addition, it is essential to ensure that the amount of contracted power is sufficient to cover the extra load consumption of the vehicle. The geographic location of your residence plays an important role in this decision, as it affects the amount of solar energy that can be accessed.
If you've ever wondered how many solar panels it takes to charge an electric car, you're in the right place. The number of panels needed differs significantly depending on a variety of factors. The most important of these factors includes the capacity of the vehicle's battery, the geographical location in which it resides and the power of the solar panel.
The capacity of a car battery varies depending on the type of vehicle. In fully electric cars, the battery usually has a capacity of about 50 kWh. On the other hand, plug-in hybrids usually have smaller batteries, with a capacity ranging between 10 and 15 kWh.
Where you reside plays a vital role in installing solar panels. The process of placing solar panels in the southern area of Spain varies compared to that of the northern region. For example, in Andalusia there are approximately 3.200 hours of sunshine per year. On the contrary, Galicia only has an annual average of between 2.500 and just over 3.000 hours of sunshine, depending on the province. This disparity in sunlight hours affects the amount of energy produced.
Solar panels are capable of generating power within the range of 250-500 W. It is essential to note that this amount of power can vary greatly depending on the duration of exposure to sunlight. Therefore, the energy production of a solar panel is subject to fluctuations.
After taking into account all the aforementioned factors, it is clear that determining the number of solar panels necessary to charge an electric car requires an exhaustive study. Through this study, the amount of energy required and, consequently, the necessary amount of solar panels can be calculated. To illustrate this, let's examine a practical example.
Example of how many solar panels I need to charge an electric car
Assuming you have an electric car with a 50 kWh battery capacity and travel an average of 15.000 kilometers per year, you will need approximately 2.200 kWh to recharge it. To generate this amount of energy, five solar panels generating 500 kWh each would be needed.
The time needed to charge an electric vehicle depends on several variables. Factors such as the capacity of the vehicle's battery, the power output of the charging station, and the type of charging connector used can influence the time it takes to complete a full charge. However, it is important to note that EV charging times are constantly improving as technology advances. Therefore, The time needed to charge an electric car today may differ from that of tomorrow.
The time needed to charge your electric car battery depends on variables related to both your vehicle and the installation. The power of the solar panels, as well as the type of car charging facility at your residence, can have a significant impact on charging time.
As an estimate, if we use a power of 4 kWh for four hours, it would be enough to charge the battery of a plug-in hybrid. On the other hand, if a power of 7 kWh is used, it would take approximately seven hours to fully recharge a 100% electric vehicle.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about how many solar panels I need to charge an electric car.