Are solar and EV charger combined solutions right for my house?
Solar panels work best on south-facing roofs because they get the most sunlight. They can also be installed on east or west-facing roofs, as long as there’s enough space for the panels. You’ll also need some indoor storage space for a solar battery, like in a garage or a cupboard.
Most homes are suitable for an EV charger, especially semi-detached and detached houses. If you live in a mid-terraced house, there might not be enough wall space for the charger and parking nearby can be challenging.
Average installation time:
3-4 days
Approximate cost saving:
A vehicle powered by solar can save around £1,950 each year on fuel.
A home powered by solar can save around £509 each year on energy.
This is a total yearly saving of £2459.
Here’s a breakdown of how much money you could save with solar panels:
Two-bedroom terraced | Three-bedroom semi-detached | Four-bedroom detached | |
Savings in one year | £440 | £660 | £1,005 |
Savings in 25 years | £11,000 | £16,500 | £27,500 |
How long until you see these savings? | Nine years | Eight years | Ten years |
(Based on February 2024 and July 2024 fuel prices).
Energy efficiency:
Solar power has much lower emissions overall than coal or natural gas. This is around 20 times lower than coal and 12 times lower than natural gas. Once set up, solar panels can power your EV charger with clean energy.
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, based on July 2024 fuel prices).
There are benefits of switching to an electric car, too. From Glasgow to London:
An electric car produces around 29 kg of CO2 for a single passenger.
A petrol or diesel car produces around 90 kg of CO2 for a single passenger.
How do solar and EV charger combined solutions increase energy efficiency?
Solar panels sit on your roof and make clean energy from the sun. You can use this clean energy to power your EV charger, which means you’re using less energy from the grid and saving money.
The cost to install solar and EV charger combined solutions can vary based on a few factors:
The size of your solar panels.
The size and lifespan of your solar battery.
The size of your home
The power of your EV charger.
Typically, it can cost between £7,300 and £22,700.
Here’s a breakdown of how much solar panels cost depending on the size of your home:
Average size of home | Solar system needed (kW – kilowatt) | Solar panels needed | Cost |
One-bedroom flat or house | 3kW | 8 | £4,500 to £5,500 |
Two-bedroom terraced house | 4kW | 10 | £5,000 to £6,000 |
Three-bedroom semi-detached | 5kW | 13 | £7,500 to £8,500 |
Four-bedroom detached | 6kW | 16 | £9,500 to £10,500 |
A solar battery can cost between £2,500 and £10,000 depending on its size.
Here’s an idea of how much an EV charger can cost:
Slow charger (3kW): £300 to £450
Fast charger (7kW - 22kW): £450 to £800
Rapid charger (43kW+): £800 to £1,200
This means it would cost between £10,450 and £19,300 for a three-bedroom, semi-detached home to install solar panels, a battery and a fast EV charger.
(Based on August 2024 prices).
FAQ's - Solar and EV Combined
Ready to reduce your carbon footprint? Using solar panels, a battery and an electric vehicle (EV) charger together can help. Solar panels use sunlight to make clean electricity, and a solar battery lets you store that energy for cloudy days. This means you can charge your electric car with clean energy, all year round.
If you live in York, you may be eligible for a government grant to help pay for solar and an EV charger. Our friendly advisers can tell you about financial support and connect you with suppliers to get it installed.
Why combine solar with an EV charger?
Free virtual plan builder
Use our free Virtual Plan Builder to get ideas about energy efficiency, products, and associated costs.
Get a government grant to help pay for solar and an EV charger.
Save energy and lower your bills.
Earn money from surplus energy.
Can solar power a home EV charger?
Solar panels sit on your roof and turn sunlight into electricity. A solar battery stores this electricity so you can use it later, even when the sun isn’t shining. You can use this to charge your electric vehicle (EV) at home.
When you use solar power with an EV charger, you can:
Charge your EV with clean energy
Save money
Rely less on energy from the grid
Help the environment by lowering your carbon emissions
Did you know? If your solar panels make more energy than you need, you can sell it back to the grid and earn money.
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What do Solar and home charger combined solutions look like and where does it fit in your house?
Solar panels
Solar panels are flat and either dark blue or black. One panel is slightly smaller than a standard front door. A two-bedroom house will need around ten panels on the roof.
Solar battery
A solar battery is a compact unit, around the size of a fridge freezer. The battery is neatly wired to your panels and can be stored anywhere in your home. Most people prefer to keep them in their garage, utility room, or a cupboard.
EV chargers
EV chargers are small boxes that you put on the outside wall of your house, near to where you park your car. A cable comes out of the charger and you plug it into your car to charge it.
How big they are depends on their charging power:
Slow chargers are about the size of a book.
Fast chargers are about the size of a tablet.
Rapid chargers are about the size of a fridge.
An EV charger connects to your home’s electricity, so it won’t take up any space inside your home.
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More information
The changes we’ve made has transformed the house and how we live in it. Overall, we estimate we have halved the heat lost from our house.
Andrew, Fishergate
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YorEnergy’s efficient all in one approach makes it easy to upgrade your home's energy efficiency via multiple solutions including solar panels, doors and windows, and paired solutions for even better benefits.
Solar and home charger combined
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Our case studies are real-life scenarios of York residents who have recently installed energy-efficient solutions in their homes. They have since become our Community Energy Champions, and you will be able to connect with them if you decide to use YorEnergy on your own journey towards energy efficiency!
