July 12, 2025

How long does it take to charge a car battery with solar?

A typical home solar setup consisting of ten 300W panels that receive on average 6.02 hours of peak sunlight per day, can generate approximately 13.5kWh of energy daily. The average electric vehicle (EV) has a battery capacity of around 63kWh and consumes about 0.20 kWh per kilometer or 0.32 kWh per mile. How often and how much you need to charge depends on your driving habits. The average American drives about 59.5 km (37 miles) a day, while in Europe, the average is roughly half of that distance.

So, if an average EV is driven by an average driver, it would use about 10% of a full charge each day. To replenish this using an average solar array in a country with 6.02 hours of peak sunlight per day, it would take around 2.81 hours of solar charging. This is quite fast for home EV charging! Plus, it's 100% renewable and completely free.

Read our full article or jump down directly to:

  • How to calculate solar power generation?
  • How to calculate solar EV charging times?
  • What affects solar EV charging times

The rise of solar rooftops and home EV charging

As we move toward a greener world, more homeowners are installing solar panels on their roofs, providing their homes with 100% renewable and 100% free electricity. These same solar panel arrays can also be used to charge electric vehicles via your household AC charger. This is especially important as many EV drivers recharge at home, and environmental concerns are a key motivator for switching to electric mobility.

Solar panels are generating electricity on the roof.

Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity through semiconductor materials. This electricity can then be used to power your home and charge your EV. However, several factors affect how much energy your solar panels can produce, including the direction they face, the angle of installation, shading, panel quality, and local solar insolation.

A couple using an EMS to optimize their solar generation and consumption.

Calculating solar power generation

To estimate how much electricity your solar panels will generate, consider factors like peak sun hours and panel efficiency. For example, a 300W panel in Mexico City, which receives 6.02 peak sun hours per day, would generate around 1.35kWh daily. A 10-panel array would then generate 13.5kWh per day. This varies depending on your location, such as in San Diego with 8.4 hours of sunshine, leading to 18.9kWh, or in London with only 3.8 hours, resulting in 8.55kWh.

A man is charging his EV car while checking his phone.

Estimating charging times: Calculating how fast you can charge a car with solar panels

To determine how long it takes for your solar array to charge your car, you need the following data: your solar array’s daily output, your home charger’s power setting, your EV’s battery size, your daily mileage, and your car’s energy consumption per mile. Using these, you can calculate the time required to recharge your EV based on your needs.

An EV car is running on the road.

Solar EV charging: 5 factors which affect solar charging speeds for electric cars

Several factors influence how quickly you can charge your EV with solar power. These include the size of your EV’s battery, its charging capacity, the amount you need to recharge, weather conditions, and the output of both your solar array and home charger. Understanding these can help you optimize your solar EV charging experience.

An Electric car is running on the road.

Conclusion: Is solar EV charging worth it?

While some EV models can be recharged daily using solar power alone, others may require multiple days. Fortunately, you don’t always have to rely solely on solar. Combining solar with grid electricity can offer a faster and more efficient solution while still reducing your carbon footprint. Integrating battery storage can further enhance the viability of your solar-powered EV charging setup. Overall, solar EV charging is a cost-effective, sustainable, and practical option for many drivers. To learn more, visit our blog.

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