Calculate the solar panels, battery bank, inverter, and charger you need to charge your electric vehicle from the sun.
Supports Level 1 & Level 2 charging with a "Direct Solar" budget mode — no batteries needed.
Charging your electric vehicle with solar panels is one of the most cost-effective ways to "fuel" your car. A typical EV uses 0.25–0.35 kWh per mile (EPA rated). For a 30-mile daily commute, that's only about 7.5–10 kWh per day — easily covered by a modest solar array.
Solar charges a battery bank during the day. The inverter draws from batteries to power your EV charger any time — day or night, rain or shine.
The EV charger connects to the inverter as a regular AC load. The inverter is powered directly by solar panels — no battery bank needed. Charging only happens during solar production hours.
| Level | Voltage | Typical Amps | Power | Miles/Hour | Full Charge Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 120V | 12A | 1.4 kW | 3–5 | 40–60 hours |
| Level 2 | 240V | 32–48A | 7.7–11.5 kW | 25–35 | 6–10 hours |
Per the National Electrical Code (NEC 625.40), EV chargers are classified as a continuous load — the circuit breaker must be rated at 125% of the charger's max amperage:
| Charger Amps | Breaker Size | Wire Gauge |
|---|---|---|
| 16A | 20A | 12 AWG |
| 24A | 30A | 10 AWG |
| 32A | 40A | 8 AWG |
| 40A | 50A | 6 AWG |
| 48A | 60A | 6 AWG |
One solar owner reported a single-day production of 36 kWh — enough to power their entire household, heat 210 liters (55 gallons) of water to 45°C, and charge two electric vehicles (a Nissan Leaf to 80% and a Tesla to 60%) — all from rooftop solar alone.
This demonstrates that a well-sized solar system can handle EV charging alongside normal household loads. A 6–8 kW solar array in a good-sun region can realistically produce 30–40 kWh on a clear day.
Our main calculator sizes your full solar + battery system including all household loads.
Full System Calculator