Solar Panels on your garage for your electric car
Electric vehicles are here, folks. 2010 is the year that many major automakers start rolling out the much anticipated EVs that will help save us from global warming and future disasters like the one unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, some critics note that electric vehicles are not entirely green when users tap into coal-based electricity.
So why not power your electric car with solar panels?
Electricity from renewable energy is a green way to recharge your EV. If you are thinking about both a new car and new home solar panels in the near future, how many panels do you need?
First of all, congratulations to you for even considering a greener way to live! Electric vehicles are low to zero-emissions options for commuting and travel. When you recharge them with clean electricity, you’ll make a green thing even better! Because of the economy and ecology, many people are demanding electric cars – finally, auto makers are listening!
Before you make your plans for residential solar power, you’ll need to know how many solar panels to purchase for your needs. In part, this requires considering your existing electricity usage. But you’ll also need to think about increased electricity draw for recharging an electric car.
How many solar panels do you need to power your electric car?
Fortunately, sites like 1 Block off the Grid (1BOG) can help with your calculations. Here’s what they estimate you will need in order to power your electric car with enough juice to drive 12,000 miles per year (the average in the U.S.):
In order to drive around 12,000 miles a year (the U.S. average), you’ll need about 200 to 250 kWh per month, given a car with a four- or five-mile-per-kW efficiency of cars like the Mini E, the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt. 1BOG (which stands for One Block Off the Grid) ran some numbers for driving a Leaf in Los Angeles, and figured that you’d need to install three extra 200W solar panels at a cost of $1,808 after rebates and tax credits. Given the money saved by not paying for gas, the payback time to buy these additional solar panels is about three-and-a-half years.
For more information and details, click here.
Tags: electric car, electric vehicle, home solar, home solar panels, residential solar power, solar electric car, Solar Panels, solar-powered car
I had this exact idea myself and was wondering why it was not implemented more. I mean by all means the new Sonata is coming out and gets an estimated 200 miles before recharge, that would mean only recharging once a week if you drive 20 minute commutes each way. At 1500 or so a year in gas, it would make up the difference really fast. That and I suppose you could use the solar panels on a home grid the other 3 days to cut electricity in the house.