Electric vehicles and solar panels are one of the best financial combinations available to Australian households right now. An EV adds 5–15 kWh of daily electricity demand — which is exactly the kind of predictable, schedulable load that solar loves. But you need to get the sequencing and sizing right.
The Basic Math
The average Australian drives around 40–50km per day. An EV uses roughly 15–18 kWh per 100km, so a typical daily commute needs around 7–9 kWh to recharge. A 6.6kW solar system generates roughly 26–33 kWh/day in summer and 16–22 kWh in winter — which means solar can cover most or all of your EV charging on most days of the year.
At current electricity rates (28–45c/kWh depending on state), charging an EV from the grid costs around $3–$6 per day for average usage. Charging from solar: essentially free. Over a year, that's $1,000–$2,000 in fuel savings on top of what solar already saves on household electricity.
Which Comes First: Solar or EV?
If you're buying both, there's a logical order:
- Get solar first, if possible. You know your current electricity usage and can size a system for your existing needs. Then model the EV load addition on top. You'll also have time to understand your solar generation patterns before adding a large new load.
- If buying EV first: Your consumption data for the next 12 months will include EV charging, which gives you an accurate picture of total usage for solar sizing.
- Size your solar for the EV from day one. If you know an EV is coming in the next 2–3 years, tell your installer. A 6.6kW system that suits your current usage may need to be 8.5–10kW with an EV added. The marginal cost of a larger system at install is much lower than retrofitting later.
Smart EV Charging
A standard home EV charger draws 7–22kW when plugged in — which can overwhelm a solar system if it fires up mid-morning. Smart EV chargers (from brands like Zappi, Fronius Wattpilot, and others) monitor your solar generation in real time and throttle the charging rate to match excess solar output. This means your EV charges during solar hours at the rate the panels can supply — maximising free solar charging and minimising grid imports.
A smart charger costs around $1,500–$2,500 installed and typically pays for itself in 2–3 years through optimised solar self-consumption.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): The 2026 Development Worth Knowing
A growing number of vehicles — including some Nissan models, the BYD Atto 3, and others — support Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technology. Your EV's large battery (often 40–80 kWh) can power your house during peak electricity periods or a blackout, essentially acting as a massive home battery at no extra cost since you already own the EV.
V2H requires a compatible vehicle, a V2H charger (currently $3,000–$8,000 installed), and a compatible solar inverter. It's still emerging in Australia in 2026, but the economics are increasingly compelling — why buy a $15,000 home battery when your car already has one?
The Charging Schedule
Set your EV charger to start automatically at 9am or 10am (after the panels warm up) and charge through the middle of the day. If you have a battery, charge the house battery first in the morning, then the EV. Simple scheduling changes can dramatically increase the percentage of your EV charging that comes from solar.
The EV + solar combination is one of the highest-ROI decisions an Australian household can make right now. Upload your bill to GridBeater to model what size solar system makes sense for your current usage and anticipated EV needs.
Size your solar for your EV → Upload your bill free at GridBeater