Solar + EV Charging Savings Calculator — Combined Annual Savings
Calculate combined annual savings from pairing solar panels with EV home charging. See how much solar covers your EV charging and what the net financial benefit is.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your annual driving miles to calculate EV charging energy needs.
- Enter your EV's efficiency in miles per kWh (find this in your vehicle specs).
- Enter your solar system size in kW.
- Enter your local electricity rate and peak sun hours (or use the state selector).
- See what fraction of your EV charging your solar covers and the total annual savings.
Understanding your results
Solar + EV synergy: An EV adds a large, flexible electricity load that can be timed to coincide with peak solar production. Unlike your fridge or HVAC that run on a fixed schedule, EV charging can be programmed for 10am–3pm when solar output is highest — dramatically increasing self-consumption and reducing grid imports.
Annual EV charging energy is calculated as: annual miles ÷ vehicle efficiency (mi/kWh). A 12,000 mile/year driver in a 3.5 mi/kWh efficiency EV uses 3,430 kWh per year for charging — about 30% of a typical home’s electricity consumption.
Solar coverage: If your solar system produces 10,000 kWh per year and your EV needs 3,400 kWh, solar can theoretically cover 100% of your EV charging if you time charging to solar peak hours. In practice, 60–80% solar coverage is achievable with daytime charging.
Combined financial case: The average US driver saves $1,200–$1,800/year switching from gas to electric. Pairing with home solar adds another $500–$1,000 in electricity savings. Combined, the annual savings often exceed $2,000 — significantly improving both EV and solar payback periods.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers for US homeowners.
Related solar guides
In-depth sizing, cost, and payback articles — with state-by-state data.