$7,000 Annual Savings In Australia Driving On Sunshine!

Global solar inverter company SolarEdge recognizes the fertile chance of integration with electric vehicles, and manifesting the potential of combined solar energy monitoring and EV charge scheduling to help homeowners maximize energy usage.

Many solar owners choose EVs over petrol and diesel vehicles. It’s also true that one owning an EV tends to think more of solar charging. I will drive a bit out of my way to charge at a solar charger rather than use one connected to the regular grid. More people, each day, consider owning a rooftop solar system. If driving an energy-efficient zero-emission EV, it follows naturally that one will start to consider owning a rooftop solar system to “drive on sunshine.”

There is clearly the option homeowners have of maximizing the amount of solar used to charge vehicle batteries on their roofs. If a renter, there are also options now to choose from solar energy sources for your electricity — including with SolarEdge.

Consider it more if you haven’t before, because besides helping your planet’s well being, it is likely that you are going to save more in your bank account. One person’s new experience with a solar inverter trial shows him an immensely healthy $7,000 AUD annual savings from driving on sunshine. A six-month trial using a new two-in-one solar inverter and electric car charger has shown the massive savings to be had from driving on the free energy resource right above our heads.

The Driven reports that Garth James had the fortunate opportunity of trying out the new inverter from SolarEdge. The majority of electric vehicle owners find it convenient to charge their cars at home, much like a mobile phone. While this is more often done at night, SolarEdge offers an idea. The new inverter allows EV owners to make use of the day’s sunlight almost directly. The Driven shares that for James, who switched from a Mitsubishi Pajero to a Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid, the savings shown a great ROI (return on investment) from this approach.

“I’ve gone from spending $600 a month on fuel to basically driving just on sunshine,” James said.

“It’s even more cost effective for businesses that have company cars that are GST exempt. I don’t know why more people aren’t making the switch – it just makes sense from a financial and environmental perspective.”

Charging from his 6.6kW solar system, Garth has the choice of charging off residual power or choosing a “fast mode,” making the battery refuel quite a bit faster.

“If I put it on the residual power it does about 2.3kW, but if it is on ‘fast’ charge it goes at 4kW an hour,” he told The Driven.

James reports that he is spending a mere $20 a month on fuel. His previous fuel costs were $600 a month. That makes the projected annual savings around $7,000.

James bought the PHEV since it was more affordable that the all-electric vehicles he considered. James installed the SolarEdge inverter at his electrical and solar installation business. He uses it to charge his Outlander PHEV while at the office.

Naturally, how much you can utilize the system and how much you save from it depends on where your car is during the day and where the solar power installation is.

The two-in-one inverter has a “smart mode” that can be set to only charge an EV when there is solar generation, maximizing the use of any excess solar. It can also be combined with grid electricity and set to a “solar boost mode.” This can charge an electric vehicle up to four times faster than on a typical home EV charger.

Here’s more on SolarEdge’s EV charging solar inverter for Australia: