Electric Vehicle Charging and Solar in Tasmania

Electric Vehicle Charging and Solar in Tasmania

Electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Tasmania is growing, and pairing an EV with a home solar system is one of the smartest energy decisions you can make.

Charging an EV from the grid at standard residential rates costs significantly less per kilometre than fuelling a petrol vehicle. Charging from your own solar panels reduces that cost even further — essentially to zero for the energy component.

A typical EV uses around 15–20 kWh per 100 kilometres. If you drive 40 kilometres per day, you’ll need roughly 6–8 kWh of charge daily. A 6.6 kW solar system in Tasmania can comfortably produce this amount of surplus energy on most days, particularly in the warmer months.

To maximise solar charging, consider scheduling your EV to charge during peak solar production hours (typically 10 am to 3 pm). Many EVs and dedicated home chargers allow you to set charging schedules.

A dedicated Level 2 home charger (7 kW) is recommended over a standard power point for faster, safer charging. Your solar installer can assess whether your existing system and switchboard can support a home charger, or whether an upgrade is needed.

If you’re planning to purchase an EV, it’s worth factoring the additional electricity demand into your solar system sizing. Adding a few extra panels now is far more economical than retrofitting later.

To integrate EV charging with your solar system, talk to Solar Generation Tasmania.

Published by Solar Generation Tasmania. General information current as at publication — rebates, tariffs and prices change, so confirm current figures before deciding.