With the rising costs of gasoline, a lot of drivers are choosing to switch to electric to power their vehicles. One big question to ask is how many solar panels are needed to power your electric vehicle (EV). By doing some simple math we can help you find the right count for your needs. The simple answer is between 5-10 panels are needed to power your electric vehicle for the national average of 40 or more miles per day of driving.
Of course, you will need an existing solar array to add these panels to your home. This includes the racking to connect the panels to your roof, inverters, wiring and permit to connect the panels to your panel and the grid and lastly you will need a EV Level 2 charger to plug into your EV to charge. If you already have a solar system, you can probably just get a Level 2 EV charger if you have a free 20 to 80 – amp breaker in your main panel.
According to the US Department of Transportation, the average American drives about 13,500 miles a year, or 40 miles per day. How many panels you will need will depend on the kind of vehicle you have.
Solar Math:
The average solar panel can put out 350 watts under full sun, receiving 3-7 peak hours of sun per day. That means our solar panel makes between 1 to 2.45kWh of electricity every day (350 x 3 low / 350 x 7.5 high end). Say you get 1.75 kWh per day, per panel. You will need 5 panels to make enough energy to charge a Tesla Model 3 battery and get 40 miles of range.
| Make & Model | kWh or 40 mile daily range | Annual kWh | # of Panels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 Standard Range | 9.6 | 3,600 | 6 |
| Hyundai Kona | 11.2 | 3,900 | 6 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 13.6 | 5,200 | 8 |
| Porsche Taycan 4S | 16.8 | 6,300 | 10 |
1.75 (average kwh per day/panel) X 10 (# of panels) = 17.5 (kWh/daily) X 365 (days in year) = 6,400 (annual kWh rounded up)
The Numbers:
On Average every kW of solar on you roof produces about 4kWh/day = 1,500 kWh/year (depending on weather conditions, seasons, and locations). To produce 4,666 kWh of energy you’d need an additional 3.1 kW system or 8-12 panels depending on their power output to run the average EV purely on solar energy.
Average – people drive about 14,000 miles per year according to the Federal Highway Administration. Average EV can go 3 miles per kWh = 4,666 kWh/year (14,000/3 = 4,666). SolarTech can help you with the right number of panels you will need for your home and EV. SolarTech installs SunPower solar panels, they provide the most output of any panels on the market and have the best warranty.
