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March 10, 2023 Jason Svarc
One of the big drawcards for those with rooftop solar is the ability to charge an EV using your own power. Charging with your own solar-generated electricity can essentially eliminate the ‘fuel’ cost of an EV altogether. However, in practice, this is not always as easy as it sounds. In this article, we discuss the various home EV chargers available, analyse different solar charging options, determine how long it will take to charge an EV using solar, and address some of the issues with using rooftop solar and batteries for charging. For those interested in Vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology, we have a separate detailed article about using V2L for backup power.
How to charge an EV at home using solar
Charging an EV using your own rooftop solar can be relatively easy, but it depends on several factors, the most obvious being the size of your solar system, the time of day, and the weather. If you want to charge an EV quickly using solar only, then you’ll need a large enough solar system and some help using a Smart charger which we will describe in more detail later.
How easy it is to charge an EV using solar depends on the following factors:
- Type of charger used. Charger speeds can range from 2kW to 22kW
- Your solar system size. Typical rooftop solar systems range from 5kW to 15kW
- The vehicle battery level. How much do you need to charge?
- How often do you travel, and how far do you drive?
This might sound complex, but fortunately, we have built a free solar and EV charging calculator so you can estimate how much solar you need to charge an EV based on your driving distance and charger type used.
If you don’t drive often, charging an EV at home using solar can be easy using a simple portable plug-in (level 1) charger and a relatively small 5kW solar system. However, as explained later, solar EV charging using a more powerful level 2 charger can be somewhat tricky, even with a much larger solar array. The problem arises as the solar system will often not generate enough to cover a level 2 charger at full power during cloudy or bad weather. Luckily, this is where Smart EV chargers can help, along with several other solar charging options explained below.
EV battery capacity. Kilowatt-hours (KWh)
Before we get into too much detail about the different types of chargers and charge rates, it’s necessary to understand EV battery capacity and range. Battery capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and electric vehicles are available with a vast range of different battery sizes, from 24kWh up to 100kWh or more. Most common EVs have a battery capacity of around 65kWh, which generally provides a driving range of about 350km, depending on the conditions and how efficiently you drive. Each kWh of battery capacity will deliver around 5km to 8km of driving range. For a real-world comparison, lighter, more efficient EVs can use as little as 12kWh per 100km (1kWh = 8.2km), while larger, high-performance EVs can use 20kWh or more per 100km of driving (1kWh = 5km).
An average EV uses around 16kWh per 100km (1.0kWh = 6.0km)
Driving at higher speeds results in less driving range due to increased aerodynamic drag. However, most EVs also have regenerative braking, which recovers much of the energy which is typically lost during braking to slow the vehicle. Regenerative braking is particularly beneficial in city start-stop driving, where it improves efficiency and reduces brake dust and air pollution.
Home EV charging options
For those with solar installed, the first thing that comes to mind after purchasing an EV is what charging options are available and whether they are compatible with a rooftop solar system. Before we get into detail, it’s worth pointing out that most level 2 chargers, also called wallbox chargers, are relatively simple devices that can be installed on any home or business with or without rooftop solar. The main difficulty is whether your utility grid connection has enough spare capacity to support a level 2 charger, which generally requires a 32A supply.
Technically there are three levels of EV chargers, of which only the first two can be used at home. Level 1 is a basic portable (granny) charger that can be plugged into any ordinary 10A socket, or a larger 15A power socket. Most EVs come equipped with a small 10A charger as standard. Level 2 are compact wall-mounted chargers that are permanently installed on homes and businesses. Level 3 are very large, powerful, fast chargers generally found at dedicated roadside EV charging stations.
- Level 1.Portable 10A or 15A plug-in chargers from 1.4kW up to 3.6kW (10A to 15A)
- Level 2.Dedicated wall-mounted chargers from 5kW up to 22kW (Wallbox charger)
- Level 3.Roadside EV charging stations from 50kW up to 350kW (DC fast charger)
The 4 types of home EV chargers
Plug-in (socket) EV charger
Most EVs come equipped with a simple level 1 charger that can be used with any common 10A wall socket. These small, portable chargers generally require 12 to 36 hours to fully recharge an average EV, depending on the battery size and initial state of charge. Most 10A chargers can charge at a maximum rate of 2.2kW but typically draw from 1.7kW to 2.0kW, which adds around 10km to 14km of range per hour, depending on the vehicle. powerful 15A portable chargers are also available which are very affordable but will require a dedicated 15A outlet to be installed in the home or garage.
An average residential 6kW solar system can generate 2 to 3kW even during partly cloudy weather, so solar EV charging using a 10A level 1 plug-in socket charger is quite easy.
Single-phase Wallbox EV chargers
Level 2 single-phase EV chargers can be wall or post-mounted and come in a variety of options and designs. Most are rated at 32 Amp, which is the equivalent of 7.4kW of power, and can provide a vehicle with a range of 40 to 50km per hour at the full charge rate. Given that the average person drives less than 50km a day, in theory, you will only need an hour or two to recharge a vehicle daily. An average EV can be fully recharged in 8 to 10 hours using a regular single-phase 7kW Wallbox charger.
Solar EV charging using a single-phase EV charger (7kW) is possible using a large 10kW solar system during good weather. However, a Smart EV charger is the best option as it can dynamically adjust the charging rate to match your solar generation.
Three-phase Wallbox EV chargers
Level 2 three-phase home EV chargers generally look identical to single-phase wall-mounted devices and are typically rated at 32 Amps. However, due to having three supply phases, they can supply three times as much power as the single-phase version, which is roughly equivalent to 22kW of charging power. This can provide a vehicle with a range of 120 to 150km per hour at the maximum charge rate. So fully recharging an average EV can be done in less than 3 hours using a 3-phase Wallbox charger.
Solar-only EV charging using a powerful 3-phase charger (at 22kW) can be difficult, even with a very large 15kW solar system, especially during cloudy weather. Solution: A three-phase EV charger set at a lower charge rate (such as 12kW), or preferably a three-phase Smart EV charger, is the best option as it can dynamically adjust the charge rate to match the solar output.
Combined solar inverter and EV charger
A recent technology is a combined solar inverter and EV charger that can charge directly from rooftop solar. Integrating a charger with a solar inverter is a clever solution that eliminates the need for a separate EV charger along with additional wiring and potential electrical upgrades. The only downside is the inverter must be installed in a garage or close to the vehicle.
SolarEdge is the first solar inverter manufacturer to produce a combined solar inverter and EV charger that can either charge from solar only or from solar and the grid simultaneously at a rate up to 7.4kW. This is ideal for those looking to add solar and an EV charger at the same time and have a preference for Smart home controls. Note, the SolarEdge energy meter is required to enable the Smart charging features.
How long does it take to charge an EV using solar?
This is an open-ended question as it depends on the EV battery capacity and the solar system size. Generally, it will take a long sunny day to charge an average EV from 20 to 80% using a standard 6.5kW rooftop solar system. Naturally, the more solar, the better when it comes to EV charging from home, especially in colder, less sunny locations. Unless you drive more than 80km per day, EV charging from rooftop solar will be relatively straightforward using a regular rooftop solar system provided you are home during the day. Try our solar and EV charging calculator to simulate EV charging using solar.
Average daily EV CHARGING TIMES using a rooftop solar system (Sydney, Australia).
- 6.5kW solar system = 7 hours to charge from 20 to 80% ( Hyundai Kona 64kWh)
- 10kW solar system = 5 hours to charge from 20 to 80% ( Hyundai Kona 64kWh)
The actual charge time can vary significantly depending on how low the EV battery is, the type of EV charger and weather conditions. A larger 10kW rooftop solar array with a more powerful 7kW Type 2 charger could charge an EV up to 80% in 6 to 8 hours on a sunny day, while a more powerful 3-phase charger and 15kW solar array could take as little as 5 hours. Many of these charging times assume the household load is low, and weather conditions are mostly sunny; however, things are not always ideal in practice. This is where a Smart EV charger can help if you want to avoid paying for grid power to charge your EV at home.
Average daily EV CHARGING RATES using a rooftop solar system (Sydney, Australia).
- 6.5kW solar system = 4.5kWh per hour = 22km of range per hour
- 10kW solar system = 7.5kWh per hour = 36km of range per hour
Note: Average solar levels in Sydney are similar to those in Spain or Southern California.
EV charging Efficiency
The charging efficiency of a typical EV, using a household EV charger, depends on a range of factors, including the charge rate, ambient temperature, battery temperature, charging cable length, and conversion efficiency of the vehicle’s power conversion system (AC to DC converter). Temperature can have a big effect on charging efficiency due to a number of reasons. High ambient temperature can mean a vehicle may need to run the battery cooling system while charging, while very low temperatures require the battery heating system to be running while charging. Additionally, any charger will operate less efficiently in very high temperatures due to increased electrical resistance.
Recent testing conducted by Clean Energy Reviews using a BYD Atto 3 electric vehicle compared the charging efficiency of a small portable 10A charger to a 7kW dedicated EV charger at various charging rates. The results, shown in the chart below, indicate that a portable 10A charger’s charging efficiency is lower than that of a dedicated EV charger due to the lower charging rate and losses in the charging cable and extension leads used with portable chargers.
Cable losses
Cable losses are a result of resistance and associated voltage drop as the electrical current travels through a cable. The amount of voltage drop depends on three main factors, the charging current, the cable length and the cable size; longer cables and higher currents result in greater losses. The cable resistance also increases with higher temperatures resulting in voltage drop and lower power (Note: Power (W) = Voltage x Current). As the test results above indicate, longer cables, especially extension leads used with portable chargers, result in higher losses. The losses can also be amplified in high temperatures, especially if the charging cable and extension leads are lying in the sun (on concrete).
Solution: Use a shorter cable or extension lead if possible. Or use a larger size cable. Most 10A extension leads use a 1.0mm2 copper core size, while 15A leads generally use a larger 1.5mm2 copper core. A 15A outlet and cable will help improve charging efficiency if you require a long extension lead.
Low charge rates = Lower efficiency
Most power conversion equipment (inverters or chargers) will operate more efficiently when working close to the rated power output, and EVs are no different. An electric vehicle’s built-in charger needs to convert AC power from the grid to high-voltage DC power to charge the battery system. This process requires power conversion (via transistors) and powering auxiliary controls like battery cell balancing and temperature regulation. If the charger is rated at 7kW and the charge rate is set to only 2kW, then the losses will be greater. Charging at closer to 50% of the charge rating or higher will help improve charging efficiency.
Smart EV Chargers
Smart EV chargers offer various Smart charging modes to optimise when and how your EV is charged. Charging options include scheduled charging to charge during off-peak times automatically or when electricity are low, boost charging and solar-only charging. If you have rooftop solar installed, you can use a Smart EV charger to maximise your self-use of solar. These Smart app-controlled chargers can monitor your solar generation and divert it to your EV charger instead of exporting excess solar to the electricity grid. This way, you don’t end up drawing power from the grid to charge your EV, even during poor or intermittent weather.
How do Smart EV chargers work
A standard home EV charger will draw at a fixed rate, typically 3.5kW to 7.4kW, depending on the type of charger and settings used. However, when charging from rooftop solar, the energy generated may be far less, especially during cloudy or poor weather. Smart EV chargers overcome this problem by using an energy metering device called a CT clamp mounted near the main electrical supply connection to monitor the energy flow to and from the grid. Once it detects excess energy flowing out to the grid from your solar, it will charge the EV at that specific amount. However, this can constantly vary due to changes in power consumption and solar generation, so the Smart EV charger continuously adjusts the charge rate to match the excess solar generation. See our Smart EV chargers article for more information.
Off-grid solar EV charging
Charging an EV using an off-grid solar system can be challenging since the battery capacity of an EV can be far greater than the battery capacity of a residential off-grid system. For instance, an average EV has a 60kWh battery, while an off-grid household may only have a 35kWh battery. In this situation, the high power consumption rate using a Level 2 EV charger (up to 7kW) could completely drain an off-grid battery in 5 hours if it is not monitored or controlled correctly, resulting in system shutdown or excess backup generator runtime. To compound this problem, most Smart EV chargers cannot be used to charge using solar only in an off-grid system, as there is no grid export for the charger to reference, even in an AC-coupled off-grid system. However, Smart EV chargers can still be used as regular EV chargers in an off-grid system as long as you monitor the consumption or use timers to prevent draining the off-grid battery.
Currently, only one dedicated off-grid EV charger is available from Victron Energy. Victron specialises in off-grid power equipment, so it’s not surprising they developed a Smart EV charger with off-grid functionality that can be programmed not to discharge the household battery below a pre-set level (min SOC). However, for it to operate, the charger must be connected to a Victron off-grid system containing a Victron GX device (Smart control hub).
For those more technically inclined, there are alternative methods to ensure the off-grid battery system is not discharged too low using a regular EV charger together with a contactor (relay) controlled by either an off-grid inverter, Smart shunt or MPPT.
Charge HQ. Smart charging using OPCC
A recent technology currently in the trial phase in Australia is a Smart app-based control system that integrates with an existing solar system to charge an EV. A startup company called Charge HQ has developed the software, which is compatible with a number of popular solar inverters and energy storage systems, including Fronius, SolarEdge, Tesla, and Sungrow, plus energy monitoring platforms like Solar Analytics.
To function, Charge HQ needs to be able to control the EV charging over the Internet. It can either talk directly to your electric vehicle or to the Smart charger installed in your home. However, the EV charger must be an Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) compatible charger with support for external power control. If it does not support power control, the system can still start charging when there is enough solar and stop when the available solar is below the set charge rate. EV chargers with OPCC compatibility can also be incorporated into Smart home control software.
Bidirectional chargers. V2G V2H
A new technology that will become more popular in the future is vehicle-to-grid or V2G, using what’s known as a bidirectional charger. This might sound complex, but it simply allows two-way energy flow from your electric vehicle. Ordinary EV chargers send energy in one direction during charging, whereas bidirectional chargers can also draw power from your vehicle, if required, to power your home or help balance the electricity grid in times of high demand.
Another emerging technology is vehicle-to-home or V2H. This is similar to the V2G, but the energy is used locally to power a home and enables the EV to function much like a large household storage battery to help increase self-sufficiency using solar.
For V2G to work, the EV must be able to accept two-way charging and there are only a few V2G compatible EVs on the market including the latest Nissan Leaf. This technology will become a game-changer in the near future and can offer a wide range of services including powering your home and storing excess solar energy. Learn more in our detailed bidirectional chargers explained article.
Vehicle-to-Load. V2L
EVs with vehicle-to-load or V2L technology are much simpler and do not require a bidirectional charger to operate. V2L gives the ability to plug-in electric appliances directly into standard (10A) AC outlets built into the vehicle. EVs with V2L technology can supply AC power and are used as a backup power supply in the event of a blackout or an emergency. Considering the average EV has a 60kWh battery, a fully charged EV could, in theory, supply a regular household for several days non-stop. Another useful feature of V2L is it can be used to top-up other electric vehicles if they happen to be stranded due to a flat battery.
EV charging using a battery
If you are away most of the day, charging an EV using rooftop solar can be challenging. However, this is where battery storage can help. Most average home battery systems are 10kWh in size, which can provide up to 80km of driving range, provided you can use the total battery capacity for charging. In reality, only half of the battery may be available due to household consumption requirements, so this may only provide 30 to 40km of driving range. However, considering the majority of the population (who live in cities) drive short distances on average, this may be suitable. For those who drive longer distances, a larger battery or off-peak charging will be required to recharge the vehicle. Smart EV charging systems such as the SolarEdge inverter EV charger can help manage and optimise your EV charging using solar and battery storage.
Single-Phase Vs 3-Phase grid supply
Two main grid connection types are available for homes, single-phase and 3-phase. Single-phase electricity connections are generally limited to a maximum of 20kW or 80A, while a 3-phase residential connection can supply up to 45kW (3 x 63A).
Most homes in Australia, Asia, the UK and North America have a single-phase, 220 to 240V supply. The maximum energy that can be supplied from the electricity grid is typically 12kW to 20kW (50A to 80A). However, you cannot utilise the full grid capacity to charge an EV, or you will not be able to use any other appliances at the same time. If you did, every time you use a toaster or microwave, the grid supply switch would trip off due to overload. For this reason, most single-phase EV chargers are limited to 32A or around 7kW. This is not bad unless you really need to fast-charge at home. However, higher charging rates can be enabled using an EV charger with a load-balancing function that monitors household consumption and adjusts the charging rate accordingly. Learn more about load-balancing in our Smart EV chargers article.
Most commercial businesses have a 3-phase supply, so installing one or more high-power 22kW EV chargers is possible, depending on the capacity of the building’s electrical connection. However, multiple level-2 EV chargers could also overload a commercial grid supply, so Smart load-balancing EV chargers are also recommended.
Your home’s solar panels can shave a considerable amount off the cost of charging your EV.
By Jeff Vasishta | Updated Oct 18, 2022 6:48 PM
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How exactly do solar panels work with the electric grid to charge my electric car?
A: Let’s start with the basics. Most homes, as we know, are powered by the electric grid, and that electricity use is billed to us through our local utility or energy company. Solar panels, on the other hand, enable a home to use the energy the panels produce instead of having to purchase energy from the grid. Can we use energy gathered from solar panels to charge an electric vehicle (EV)? Yes. Energy gathered from solar panels can be used to charge your EV the same way it’s used to power the lights in your home. If the panels do not produce enough energy for charging an EV and the household needs combined, you can draw additional electricity from the grid.
In some cases, homeowners install a solar panel setup expressly for the purpose of charging their electric vehicle.
Solar energy is cheaper than electricity from a utility company.
The up-front cost of solar panels runs from 17,000 to 21,000 in 2022 for a 6-kilowatt-hour KWh system, an expense government subsidies can help offset. Despite the size of the initial outlay, in the long run, solar panels can be a worthwhile investment. In a sun-baked state such as California, solar energy is more cost-effective than gas, coal, and nuclear energy. Solar energy costs around 6 to 8 cents per kWh, while the average cost of grid electricity is 16.6 cents per kWh as of July 2022.
Level 2 chargers are the most convenient for home use.
Most EV households use a Level 2 charger that runs off the home’s utility service and delivers 220 to 240 volts of charge, as opposed to a Level 1 EV charger, which delivers a lower charge and results in much slower charging times.
Level 2 chargers can require 6-12 hours to charge your car fully, which means overnight charging will be convenient for most people. However, overnight charging will pull energy from the grid and not your solar panels unless you have a solar battery to store the day’s sunlight.
This long period of charging is set to improve. Tesla says its Model S Plaid can add 200 miles of range in only 15 minutes using one of the company’s powerful Superchargers, negating the need for extensive overnight charging. As EV charging evolves, solar panel options will become even more viable.
You’ll need 6 to 12 solar panels to charge most EVs.
To charge your EV using rooftop solar power alone, you will need an adequate setup.Unless you know what you’re doing, it’s best to hire a professional for installation. You’ll need:
- Rooftop solar panels
- A central string inverter that combines the DC output of the solar panels to AC, or micro-inverters that convert each panel’s output to AC
- A level 2 EV charger
- A storage battery
Six to twelve solar panels should be enough to charge most EVs. However, the number of panels will vary from car to car. If you live in a temperate climate without significant sunlight hours, you might want to err on the side of caution and get more than six panels. To charge a Nissan Leaf year round would require six solar panels at 370 watts each, taking up 132 square feet. The Hyundai IONIC requires five panels at 370 watts, and a Porsche Taycan 45 requires 10 panels to drive 40 miles.
Portable solar panels are not a viable solution for EV charging.
One day, when technology advances, the anxiety of running out of juice on the road will be a thing of the past. Portable solar panels that can simply be taken out of the trunk to charge your car in minutes and send you on your way are every EV driver’s dream.
Unfortunately, we’re not quite there yet. That’s not to say portable solar panels can’t be used at all to power EVs. They can, in conjunction with a generator and MC4 connectors. However, it would be best to use them only in emergencies because they can only generate a small amount of energy.
A 220 W solar panel connected to a portable 100-watt-hour generator will take 8 hours of charging to get you about 8 miles worth of driving. You might be better off walking or calling an Uber! Portable panels might be enough to get you to a place with better cell phone reception, but don’t expect to go long distances.
Newly designed solar panels closely resemble roof shingles
The EV revolution is upon us. The United States government’s goal of making at least 50% of all cars electric by 2030 means that electric usage is not only going to go through the roof, but also come from the roof.
Panels are transforming from their traditional blue/black photovoltaic sheen into objects more closely resembling roof shingles and tiles, making installation more appealing to homeowners.
While warmer areas of the country will benefit most from the solar spike, the whole country can benefit from using the summer sun. It’s time to embrace your higher power and help the planet—and your bank account too.
Tesla teases solar-powered range extender trailer with Starlink at IdeenExpo in Germany
Tesla teased a solar powered range extender trailer at the IdeenExpo in Germany. The trailer features an array of solar panels that can extend outwards when stationary.
The trailer also features a Starlink satellite dish attached on top of the trailer. user tesla_adri shared images from the expo below.
The unit has nine 300W solar panels that can generate up to 2.7 kW, when fully extended and one-third that amount when the solar panels are folded in.
Although it seems that Tesla does not intend to start production of this product for sale anytime soon, this trailer would be especially useful for camping.
The trailer can continually power the attached Starlink satellite dish, providing constant internet access and can also serve as a charger for small electronic devices.
Additionally, solar panels could charge the battery of an electric vehicle, although it is not clear how much range they would provide. It has also been confirmed by Tesla employees that there is no internal battery storage.
This wasn’t the only display from Tesla at the expo. The automaker also brought out a cutout Model Y with a structural battery pack and 4680 cells.
Tesla also showed off a Giga Berlin-made Model Y Performance, displaying the instant torque and raw speed of one of their fastest vehicles.
They brought a solar range extender trailer with Starlink.
And a Model Y with the 4680 structural battery pack.
Next to the Tesla stand is the VW stand. There are apparently more VW employees at the Tesla stand than Tesla employees. piccom/8IHxLI5ukW
Tesla_Adri (@tesla_adri) July 4, 2022
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Tesla‘s NACS Connector Standardization: SAE Takes the Wheel, Volvo Joins the Race
In a significant move for the EV industry, SAE International, formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers, is to set performance standards for Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) connector.
To expand the compatibility of the proprietary charger network beyond Tesla vehicles, this move has the potential to redraw the boundaries of the EV charging ecosystem. Until now, Tesla’s exclusive NACS connector was engineered for its global Supercharger network, consisting of approximately 17,800 Superchargers in the US alone.
SAE’s Role in Ensuring Standardization and Compatibility
In response to the significant shift towards NACS, SAE has decided to set the stage for this connector’s future. The standards proposed by SAE will dictate how the plugs interface with charging stations, establish charging speeds, and set requirements for reliability and cybersecurity. Although the decision seems to potentially mark the end of the road for new CCS1 charger plugs, the thousands of existing CCS-enabled EVs guarantee this design won’t disappear soon.
A spokesperson for SAE has clarified that the organization is not choosing the NACS connector over CCS but responding to its widespread adoption. The goal is to ensure that the most popular charging system is standardized and compatible with a wide range of EVs.
Consumer Demand Drives Major Shift in Charging Standards
Interestingly, the transition toward standardizing the NACS connector appears to be primarily consumer-driven. The number of NACS-equipped vehicles on the road significantly outweighs those with CCS connectors, nearly two to one. Given the technical challenges and infrastructure issues encountered by alternative charging networks such as Electrify America, ChargePoint, and EVgo, it’s no wonder that most EV owners favor Tesla’s reliable Supercharger network.
Reacting to this trend, major automakers, including Ford and GM, have announced their plans to align with Tesla’s charging system by manufacturing EVs equipped with NACS connectors. This week, Volvo made a similar announcement, signing an agreement to join Tesla’s Supercharger network starting in 2025. It’s important to note that while automakers won’t be charged a licensing fee for adopting NACS, EV owners will still have to pay to use Tesla’s charging stations.
This new chapter in the EV charging story signifies a more unified future that is not just about driving electric vehicles but about making electric driving more accessible to all.
Watch what happens when a Tesla vehicle battery is drained to 0% and then charged with a portable solar panel
This buffer capacity is kept reserved in a Tesla battery pack that kicks in when the SoC reaches 0%. The Tesla Model Y used in this test was able to drive 21 km (31 miles) using the 3.5 kWh buffer capacity.
The destination which Bjorn chose to have the battery pack reach 0% SoC and even the buffer had to be utilized, does not have a Tesla Supercharger or a third-party charging location nearby.
At last, the battery died. Some basic functions like Windows, blinkers, and center touchscreen functions were still working through the 12v battery.
The interesting part of this test is the portable solar panel which is used for emergency charging after the Tesla vehicle’s battery pack is completely drained and the vehicle comes to a total stop. Although charging from this small solar panel is very slow but it gave the battery pack enough electron juice to reach the close-by Supercharger station.
So, a Tesla can be charged using a mobile solar panel, and depending on its size and power output, the charging times would vary a lot. With the specific small solar setup in this video, the Tesla vehicle was able to 0.3 kWh in just 8 mins at ~220v and 2.0 kW.
By Iqtidar Ali
Iqtidar has been writing about Tesla, Elon Musk, and EVs for more than 3 years on XAutoWorld.com, many of his articles have been republished on CleanTechnica and InsideEVs, maintains a healthy relationship with the Tesla community across the Social Media sphere. You can reach him on @IqtidarAlii
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