How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla with Solar Panels?

Charging Your Tesla with Solar: Costs, Benefits, and Tips

Electric vehicles (EVs) like Tesla are growing in popularity as more drivers look to save on fuel costs and reduce their carbon footprint. While charging a Tesla is much cheaper than fueling a gas-powered car, you can reduce costs even further by powering your EV with solar energy generated at home.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about charging a Tesla with solar panels, including:

• How much power it takes to charge a Tesla.
• The costs involved with setting up a solar EV charging station
• How many solar panels are needed to charge a Tesla?
• Comparing solar vs. grid EV charging costs
• Finding Tesla public charging stations
• Tesla charging station's price
• Tips for maximizing savings.

How Much Power (kWh) Does It Take to Charge a Tesla?

The amount of electricity needed to charge your Tesla will depend on the battery capacity, charging equipment, and how many miles you drive.

Tesla’s long-range flagship sedans like the Model S and Model 3 have battery packs of around 75-100 kWh. The Model X and Model Y SUVs also have 75-100 kWh battery options.

All Tesla vehicles come with a SAE J1772 Charging Adapter, which is compatible with most Level 2 public charging stations. The J1772 Adapter supports charging speeds up to 19.2kW.

Tesla also offers a wall connector, which is compatible with most North American electric vehicles. The Tesla J1772 Wall Connector is a 9.6 kW unit (40 A, 240 V) with a 24-foot (7.3 meter) cable length. Tesla recommends installing a Level 2 Wall Connector for the best home charging experience.

Based on average US driving habits, most Tesla owners will need to add 30-50 kWh per day. This allows for roughly 40-60 miles of driving on a single charge.

When charging at home with a Level 2 charger, a Tesla will add around 25-35 miles of range per hour of charging. A full recharge from empty takes around 10-15 hours. However, it is unlikely that you will be recharging from completely empty, if plugging in from home each night.

What Are the Costs of Charging a Tesla with Solar?

There are two main costs associated with setting up solar EV charging:

• Buying and installing solar panels
• Purchasing and installing a home EV charger

Let's break down each of these costs in more detail:

Solar Panel System Costs

The average cost to install a solar system in the US is around $3 per watt. For a quality 8 kW system, expect to pay $20,800 before incentives.

After claiming the federal solar tax credit, net costs drop to $14,500. Additional state/local rebates can reduce costs even further.

So, how many watts does it take to charge a Tesla? Most experts recommend adding at least 4-6 extra panels beyond your normal household needs. At 400 watts per panel, that’s an extra 1,600-2,400 watts of solar capacity that is needed to charge a Tesla.

Adding these panels will increase the system cost by around $2,000. So, in total, expect to pay $16,100 to $16,500 for a solar setup designed for powering your Tesla.

Home EV Charger Costs

Tesla sells its own Wall Connector for home charging. The charger itself costs $500, while a hardwired installation typically ranges from $800-$1,500. Comparable fast-charging alternatives are the Level 2 Clipper Creek EV charging stations that can add 31 miles of range per hour of charging. Another smart alternative to a Tesla EV charger is the SPAN Drive for $750. SPAN is a Level 2 charger that can be used with either solar energy or from utility grid power. It's a high-powered charger that can deliver up to 41 miles of range per hour and is compatible with all EVs. The SPAN Drive can adjust its charging speed dynamically and “borrow” unused capacity from other home circuits.

Some additional electrical upgrades may be required depending on your home’s current wiring and electrical panel capacity. Plan for an all-in cost of $950 to $2,000 to buy and professionally install a home EV charger.

Total Upfront Costs

When you add up the solar panels and home EV charger with installation, the total upfront cost works out to about $18,000 after the Federal Tax Credit is applied.

And you’ll own this system for 25+ years. Over that timeframe, you’ll save an average of $27,000 in electric bills and over $17,100 in gas costs while powering your vehicle with clean, renewable energy. This more than pays for itself, not to mention the value of your time and convenience.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla with Solar vs Grid Electricity?

Charging your Tesla with solar is dramatically cheaper than using grid electricity. Let's compare the costs:

Charging with Solar

For a 9.4 kW solar energy system with EV charging, the 25-year lifetime production is around 299,000 kWh.

With a total net cost of $18,000 after incentives, that works out to just $0.06 per kWh for solar-generated electricity.

So, charging a 75 kWh Tesla battery from empty will cost $4.50 with solar power.

Charging with Grid Electricity

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in January 2023, the national average cost of electricity was $0.168 per kWh. Some states, like California and Hawaii, are over $0.30 per kWh.

At the national average grid rate, charging a 75 kWh Tesla battery costs $12.60. Depending on your rates, a full charge can cost over $20.

Over the 25-year lifespan of your solar panels, charging a Tesla with grid electricity can cost$20,000 to $30,000 more compared to home solar power.

The following table summarizes the Tesla charging costs:

Clearly, powering your Tesla with solar provides huge savings over time.

Finding Tesla Charging Stations on the Go

For longer road trips, Tesla owners need to stop at public charging stations. The good news is that Tesla has invested heavily in it's Supercharger network.

With over 3,000 stations globally, Superchargers allow you to quickly recharge on highways and major routes. You can add 150+ miles of range in just 15 minutes.

Here are some tips for finding Supercharger stations along your route:

• Use the in-car navigation to see upcoming charger locations based on your set destination.
• Access the Tesla mobile app, which shows nearby Superchargers and availability.
• Check out Tesla’s website, which has a map of all Supercharger stations.
• Use apps like PlugShare to see all EV chargers, including Tesla and non-Tesla stations.

The costs to Supercharge vary by region and charging speed tier (kW power level). But in general, expect to pay 25-35 cents per kWh.

Charging at Superchargers is still far cheaper than gas, especially when charging partially versus fully recharging. Tap into home solar power whenever possible to maximize savings.

Tips for Maximizing Savings When Charging Your Tesla with Solar Panels

Follow these tips to maximize the return on investment from your solar EV charging setup:

Size your solar system properly – Work with your installer to ensure you have ample solar production to meet your household needs and power your Tesla or other EV. Have them design the system based on your driving habits and battery size.

Leverage federal/state/utility incentives – Take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit plus any additional local rebates, tax credits, and utility incentives in your area. This maximizes upfront cost savings.

Charge during the day - Set a charging schedule to align with peak solar production hours, typically midday. Avoid charging at night with grid electricity, unless you have solar battery storage to pull from.

Manage rates with time-of-use plans – If your utility offers TOU rates, shift charging to align with cheaper or “free” off-peak rates in the evening/night.

Upgrade to a smart home energy management - These systems optimize solar power usage across your home appliances and your EV to help further reduce charging costs. Remotely control your home energy consumption using the SPAN Smart Panel, for example. Then pair it with the SPAN Drive to enable the greatest control over electric vehicle charging, and the way you consume power during the process.

Use solar at home as much as possible – Supercharging, while convenient, will still cost 4-6X more than charging from your own panels.

Conclusion

Charging a Tesla with home solar panels allows you to fuel your car with clean, renewable power at the lowest possible cost.

By investing in rooftop solar PV and a smart EV charging setup, you can maximize savings compared to grid-powered charging. Lower your carbon footprint while driving in sunshine.

Typical costs for home solar panels + EV charging equipment and installation, after federal and local incentives are applied, will be $12,000-$18,000.

Over the 25+ year system lifespan, you can save $20,000-$30,000 on charging costs compared to using grid electricity.

Are you ready to start powering your Tesla or other EV for less? Reach out to top-rated solar specialists from Solar Home Review and get a FREE custom quote and roof design for your solar + EV charging project.