Electric Vehicles and Solar: What You Should Know

Published On - February 28, 2023

Caroline Campbell Help The Planet, Solar for Business, Solar for Homeowners
Electric vehicles may save you on your monthly gas bill—but will increase your monthly electricity bill if you charge at home.

Solar Family, are you thinking about buying an electric vehicle (EV)? Or maybe a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)? EVs are becoming more and more popular, and they’re only going to get more prevalent as time goes on. But if you’re considering going electric, there’s one thing you need to know: an EV or PHEV will save you money on gas… but it will increase your electric bill! 

While an EV may reduce or eliminate your gasoline bill, it still needs a power source to drive it. If your home’s power system isn’t prepared to take on the added load, it could cost you—whether you have solar power or not. 

Here are some key factors to consider before you go electric: 

  • Type of EV or PHEV—Are you looking at an economy vehicle or a sports model? Just like with gas-powered vehicles, EVs are built with different priorities in mind. More speed often equals more power… literally. 
  • How Far You’ll Go—Is this vehicle intended to be a daily driver that will take you around town? Or are you regularly commuting over long distances? The amount of miles you drive annually will determine how often you’ll need to charge your EV.
  • Your Home Power—If you have solar already, and your existing system is currently meeting your needs, charging your new EV from home will increase your electricity costs. 

An EV or PHEV can be a great investment that will likely save you time and money. If you’re looking into adding one to your garage, talk to us. By confirming a few details about your desired EV, such as make, model, and estimated mileage, we can do a basic simulation of what charging your EV at home would look like. That way, you’ll know how to accommodate both your wants and your needs with an EV.

Let’s Talk EVs

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Do you know any friends or family members who could benefit from going solar? Refer them to us now so we can help them get grandfathered into NEM-2 before the April 15 cutoff. Plus, if they choose to go solar with us, you’ll receive $400 for referring them. They’ll love you for saving them money on electricity—and you’ll get a little green for yourself too. 

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