You can charge an electric car from your solar panels, but only while the car is at home and the sun is out. Energy Saving Trust says you can charge a car or van during the day while the panels generate. At night and on dull days, you will draw power from the grid instead.

The match is better than it first sounds, although it is rarely perfect. This guide explains what to expect, what a home charger costs, and how to charge cheaply when the sun is not shining.

How solar charging works

Your panels make power during the day. Your home uses what it needs first, because it is the nearest load. Any spare power goes to the car if it is plugged in, and the rest goes to the grid.

A standard home charger runs at about 7kW. Energy Saving Trust says that, as a rule of thumb, the charging power in kW is roughly the number of miles you gain in 20 minutes. So a 7kW charger adds about 7 miles every 20 minutes.

Now compare that with your panels. Energy Saving Trust says the average home system is around 4.5kWp, and kWp is the most it can make in ideal conditions. A 7kW charger can therefore draw more than your panels make, even on a bright day. As a result, the grid often tops up the difference unless the charger can slow down to match your solar output. Ask the charger maker whether it has such a mode.

What a home charger costs

Energy Saving Trust says the typical cost to install a home charge point is around £800 to £1,200. You need off-street parking, such as a driveway or garage. It also says you must register the charger with your network operator, and your installer usually does that for you.

If you rent, live in a flat, or are a landlord, a government grant may help. Energy Saving Trust says it offers up to £350 per socket for these groups. Rules change, so check the official page before you rely on it, because grants can close.

A smart charger can also schedule itself to charge at the cheapest times, which helps when the sun is down. Energy Saving Trust says you typically need an EV energy tariff and a smart meter to get the most from one. Our guide to planning your installation explains how a charger fits alongside solar work.

How much of your car’s power can come from solar

Energy Saving Trust describes one family with a 4.2kW system and an electric car. In its first year, the panels made about 3,100 kWh and the household used about 3,300 kWh, including the car. Even so, only 40 percent of the solar power was used at home or in the car. The rest went to the grid.

That shows the main limit. Solar power is made while many people are out, so the car often misses it. If your car is parked at work in the day, it cannot use the sun at home.

The family also warns about winter. They say you will still need electricity to charge the car in the winter months, so tariffs matter. Our post on solar panels in winter explains why output drops.

Working from home, shift work and retirement all help. A car that is home in the day can use far more of your solar power than one that is away, since it is plugged in when the panels peak.

Cheap charging when the sun is not out

For nights and dull spells, use a time-of-use tariff. Energy Saving Trust says EV tariffs offer one period of very cheap electricity in the early hours of the morning. It adds that if you have an EV and solar panels, you can probably find a good export tariff from a company that also sells an EV import tariff.

Octopus Energy gives an example. Its Intelligent Octopus Go tariff offers smart charging from 7.6p per kWh, between 11:30pm and 5:30am, with up to six hours of smart charging. Octopus says that at this rate a typical electric car driven 7,000 miles a year costs about £160 in fuel, if you always smart charge at home. These are Octopus’s own figures, last checked in October 2026.

Compare that with the price cap. Ofgem says the average default rate is 26.32p per kWh from 1 October 2026, excluding VAT. A cheap overnight rate therefore saves a large share on every charge.

For example, Energy Saving Trust says home charging on an EV or time-of-use tariff costs about £8 for a full charge of a 50kWh battery. Our post on time-of-use tariffs with solar and a battery goes through the main tariff types.

Making the most of your solar power with a car

Several steps help you use more of your own power, while keeping the car ready for the morning. Set the charger to run when the sun is highest, if your car is home. Use the car’s app or the charger’s app to see when your panels peak.

Then add other loads to the same window, because the car will not take every spare unit. A solar diverter for hot water can take spare power that the car does not use. Solar panels and heat pumps can pair with a car in the same way. Our general guide on how to use more of your own solar power lists more ideas.

Monitoring helps you check that it works. Energy Saving Trust describes the family using a charger app to see how much power they make and use. Our guide to reading your solar monitoring app explains the usual screens.

Any spare power still earns money. The Smart Export Guarantee pays for what you export, typically around 12p a unit according to Energy Saving Trust. However, using it in the car saves you more than that, because you avoid buying a unit at the higher rate.

Should you wait for vehicle-to-home charging?

Some owners hope to use the car as a home battery. However, the technology is not ready for most homes. Energy Saving Trust says that generally this is not possible yet. It calls the technology bidirectional charging, and says it is being trialled in some places but is not widely available.

So do not buy a car or charger for that reason alone. Plan around what works today, because standards and prices may change.

A home battery is a separate choice, and a costly one. Our guide to solar battery cost and sizing covers the numbers. Our hubs on batteries and export, how solar panels work and solar panel costs and savings cover the wider picture.

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Common questions

Can I charge my electric car directly from solar panels?

Yes, if the car is at home while the panels are making power. Energy Saving Trust says you can charge a car or van during the day while your panels generate. You will still need the grid at night and on dull days.

How much does a home charge point cost?

Energy Saving Trust says the typical cost of installing a home charge point is around £800 to £1,200. You need off-street parking, such as a driveway or garage. Your installer usually registers the charger with your network operator.

Will my panels cover all my car charging?

Rarely. Panels only make power in daylight, and output falls in winter. A charger can also draw more power than a typical home system makes. Most owners buy some power from the grid, ideally at a cheap overnight rate.

Is there a grant for a home charge point?

Energy Saving Trust says a UK Government grant offers up to £350 per socket for residential landlords, people living in flats and people who rent their homes. Check the official scheme page for current rules.

Can my car power my home?

Generally not yet. Energy Saving Trust says bidirectional charging is being trialled in some places but is not widely available.