Understanding how to size your solar system correctly can feel daunting. This article aims to simplify this task, especially if you’re considering charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home – in this case, the 2024 Nissan Leaf. For a broader discussion, read my earlier post on how many solar panels it takes to charge a Tesla.
Preparing for Future Energy Needs
Imagine you’re about to switch from your regular gas-powered vehicle to an EV. This transition changes your home’s energy consumption because EVs come with additional charging requirements. If you have solar, or you’re thinking about solar, this has big consequences.
Sizing Solar Systems for EVs: A Detailed Example
Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario of you buying a 2024 Nissan Leaf. Here’s what you should know about this EV.
- Battery: 40-60 kWh lithium-ion
- EPA-estimated range: Approximately 150 miles
- Full charge time for 40 kWh battery: About 7.5 hours
- 240-volt home and public charge time for 60kWh battery: Around 11 hours
Using this data, we can calculate the number of solar panels needed to accommodate this new addition to your household, factoring in system efficiency, sun hours, and panel wattage. I’m putting the efficiency of my 385W panels at 80%, because I don’t optimize the angle of my solar panels for each season, and I’ll have some shade. Then I also add the solar peak hours for my state.
Now, let’s assume you drive 60 miles a day. The Nissan Leaf consumes about 0.29 kWh per mile. So, your daily energy requirement for charging the Leaf would be approximately 17 kWh. If I currently have 33 panels, I’d need 13 more panels to reliably charge my Nissan Leaf. You can find the spreadsheet to put in your own data here.
The Importance of Net Metering
As a resident of Illinois, I also benefit from net metering, which allows me to feed surplus solar power back to the grid during the day and earn credits. I can use these credits to charge the Nissan Leaf at night when solar panels aren’t actively generating power or in the winter when my overall daily production is much lower.
But remember, net metering policies vary across states, and some offer only a partial return on your energy, making it essential to familiarize yourself with local policies.
Here to Help
Correct sizing of your solar system is crucial for efficient solar energy usage, more so when factoring in EV charging. If you’re unsure about system design, Everyday Solar is here to assist you and a great place is getting an idea on system size and cost with our cost estimator. Don’t forget to check out the linked spreadsheet; you can tweak the numbers to suit your unique household needs – a real asset in planning your solar needs.