If you've got an electric vehicle and solar panels on your roof, you're probably wondering: can I actually power my car with sunshine? The short answer is yes, and it's a practical way to cut your charging costs while making the most of your solar system.
Solar EV charging means using the electricity your rooftop panels generate to charge your car, instead of drawing power from the grid. It's cheaper, cleaner, and gives you more control over your energy costs. Plus, when you're charging during the day while the sun's out, you're essentially filling up for free.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how solar EV charging actually works, what equipment you need, how many panels it takes, and how to make the whole system work smarter with your lifestyle.
What solar EV charging really means
At its simplest, solar EV charging is about redirecting the power your roof generates straight into your car's battery. Instead of sending excess solar back to the grid (often for minimal feed-in rates), you're using it to fuel your daily driving.
Most people think of solar as something that powers their home during the day, lights and appliances and all that. But if your car's parked at home during peak solar hours, it becomes another appliance that can soak up that free energy. The beauty is that EVs have big batteries, so they can absorb a lot of what your panels produce, meaning less wasted solar and lower charging costs.
The key difference between solar EV charging and regular grid charging is timing. With the grid, you're paying retail electricity prices whenever you plug in. With solar, you're using power you've already generated, which costs you nothing beyond your initial system investment.
If you’ve connected your EV to Amber for EVs, your car can do more than charge from the grid, it can also help you make the most of your daytime solar. As daytime feed-in tariffs increasingly drop to low, zero or even negative levels, exporting excess energy to the grid can start to feel like a raw deal. Instead of giving that energy away (or even paying to export it if you don't have curtailment), Amber for EVs can automatically direct your surplus solar into your EV whenever it’s cheapest and greenest.
Why more Aussies are charging from the sun
Australia has one of the highest uptakes of rooftop solar in the world, and as more Aussies switch to electric vehicles, the two are becoming a natural match.
First, there's the cost. Petrol prices have been volatile for years, while grid electricity keeps climbing. Solar EV charging bypasses both. Once your system's paid off, every kilometre you drive on solar power is virtually free. Even before that, you're still saving compared to public charging stations or peak-rate grid power.
Then there's the environmental impact. EVs are already cleaner than combustion engines, but charging them with coal or gas-fired grid power doesn't maximise the benefit. Solar charging means your transport is genuinely emissions-free, powered by Australian sunshine instead of fossil fuels. And when you can't charge from your own solar, the cheapest times to charge from the grid also happen to be the cleanest, when renewables are flooding the system rather than coal and gas.
Finally, there's energy independence. With solar and an EV, you're less exposed to price shocks, supply issues, or policy changes. You generate your own power, store it if you've got a battery, and use it when you need it. That kind of control appeals to more Australians every year.
According to The Electric Vehicle Council’s State of Electric Vehicles 2025 report, cost savings and environmental concerns are the two biggest drivers pushing Aussies toward EVs, and pairing them with solar amplifies both benefits.
How a solar-powered EV setup fits together
A typical solar EV charging setup isn't complicated, but it does have a few key parts working together.
You've got your solar panels on the roof, generating DC electricity whenever the sun's shining. That power flows to an inverter, which converts it into AC electricity your home (and car) can use. From there, electricity either powers your house, charges your EV, or gets sent back to the grid if there's excess.
Your EV charger plugs into your home's electrical system just like any other appliance. Most home chargers are Level 2, meaning they'll fully charge your car in a few hours rather than overnight. When your solar's generating, the charger draws from that first. If your panels aren't producing enough (like on a cloudy day or at night), the charger pulls from the grid to make up the difference.
Here's where it gets smarter. Those fancy EV chargers with CT clamps and solar-following capability can cost thousands of dollars. But you don't need expensive new hardware to charge from your excess solar.
With Amber for EVs, you can do the same thing for free using your existing setup. It works in two ways. If Amber is connected to both your EV and your inverter, you get Connected mode. Amber calculates your excess solar in the cloud and instructs your EV to charge using only that surplus, so you're not drawing from the grid. If Amber is only connected to your EV, you get Predictive mode. Amber uses in-house solar forecasting tools and some basic assumptions about your system to predict how much power is in excess, then charges your EV accordingly. Either way, no grid charging needed, no expensive equipment required.
That's the basic setup. If you want to dive deeper into how solar systems are installed and connected, check out our guide on the solar and battery installation process.
Adding a battery for round-the-clock charging
Here's where things get more flexible. Without a battery, you can only charge your EV with solar when the sun's actually shining. That works great if you're home during the day, but not everyone is.
A home battery stores excess solar during the day so you can use it later, after the sun goes down.
The trade-off is cost. Batteries add thousands to your upfront investment, though prices are falling and rebates can help. Whether it's worth it depends on your charging habits, how much you drive, and whether you're home during solar hours.
If you've got both an EV and a home battery, Amber lets you control where your solar goes. You can choose whether your EV or your battery charges first, and when to switch over. Plus, you can stop your EV from draining your battery, preserving that stored energy for when you actually need it at home.
If you've already got solar and you're thinking about adding a battery, we've got a detailed guide on how to add a battery to your existing solar system.
So, how many panels do you actually need?
This is the question everyone asks, and the answer depends on three things: how much you drive, how much energy you typically use per day, and how much sun your roof gets.
Keep in mind these are ballpark figures. Your actual needs will vary based on your car's efficiency, your roof's orientation, shading, and local weather. Different EV models have different efficiency ratings, so a more efficient sedan will need less solar to cover the same distance than a larger SUV-style EV.
If you want to get more precise about sizing your system for both home use and EV charging, take a look at our guide on what size solar system you need.
Home charging vs public charging stations
Home charging and public charging are two very different experiences, even when both are technically solar-powered.
At home, charging is slow, convenient, and cheap (or free if you're using your own solar). You plug in overnight or during the day, and your car's ready when you need it. You control the timing, the cost, and the energy source. For daily driving, home charging is almost always the best option.
According to The Electric Vehicle Council’s State of Electric Vehicles 2025 report, most EV owners do the majority of their charging at home and only use public chargers for longer trips or emergencies.
Estimating your savings with solar power
The savings from solar EV charging depend on a few variables: how much you drive, what you'd otherwise pay for electricity or petrol, and how much of your charging comes from solar versus the grid.
[INSERT: Example calculation showing annual driving distance, EV energy consumption, grid electricity costs vs solar charging costs, and comparison to petrol vehicle running costs]
But here's where it gets even better. With Amber's wholesale pricing, you can also capture times when electricity prices drop below zero. Yes, you read that right: there are moments, especially in spring and summer, when there's so much solar flooding the grid that wholesale prices go negative. During those times, we actually pay you to charge your EV. It might sound crazy, but it's real.
Want to run your own numbers? Use EV Get A Quote and select either EV only, or EV and Solar, to model your specific situation, including solar system size, driving habits, and electricity costs.
How Amber makes solar EV charging smarter
Once you've got solar and an EV, the next challenge is making sure they work together as efficiently as possible. That's where Amber comes in.
Most energy retailers lock you into fixed rates and rigid overnight charging plans. Amber does the opposite. We give you access to wholesale electricity prices, which change every 30 minutes based on what's actually happening in the grid. When renewable energy is abundant and prices drop, your EV automatically charges. When prices spike, it pauses. No manual scheduling, no guesswork.
Charge from your own solar, no expensive upgrades needed
If you've already got solar panels, Amber's Predictive Solar feature uses your energy data to forecast your solar surplus and automatically send it to your EV. There's no new hardware to buy, no complicated setup. It just works with your existing system.
For even more accuracy, Connected Solar wirelessly syncs with compatible inverters to get real-time data on exactly how much your panels are generating. Combined with your current home energy use, we can fine-tune your EV charge rate minute by minute, making sure you're using every drop of solar you produce.
Capture the cheapest and cleanest times to charge
Amber's smart tech doesn't just look at your solar. It also hunts for the best times to charge from the grid by analysing forecasts of wholesale pricing for the day ahead. When renewables are flooding the system and prices plummet, your car charges automatically. You're not just saving money, you're also running your EV on cleaner energy rather than coal and gas.
And yes, sometimes prices even go negative. When that happens, we pay you to charge. It's not an everyday occurrence, but it's more common than you'd think, especially when solar generation is peaking.
Work in harmony with your home battery
If you've got a home battery alongside your EV, Amber gives you control over how your energy flows. You can decide whether your solar charges your EV first or your battery, and when to switch between them. More importantly, you can prevent your EV from draining your home battery, so you're not accidentally using stored energy meant for your house.
It's all about making your whole home energy system work together, rather than competing for the same power.
If you're keen to see how it all fits together, check out Amber's electric vehicle electricity plans.
Things to check before setting up solar EV charging
Before you commit to a solar EV charging setup, run through this quick checklist to make sure you're ready.
Roof space and orientation: You'll need enough unshaded roof area facing north (or near-north) to fit the panels. East and west work too, but you'll generate less power.
Inverter capacity: If you're adding solar to an existing home, make sure your inverter can handle the extra load from EV charging. You may need an upgrade.
Electrical wiring: Some homes, especially older ones, need an electrician to upgrade the switchboard or wiring before installing a Level 2 EV charger.
Rebates and incentives: Check what's available in your state. There are rebates for solar, batteries, and EVs that can cut thousands off your upfront costs.
Installer credentials: Make sure your solar installer is accredited by the Clean Energy Council and your electrician is licensed to install EV chargers.
Charging habits: Think about when you're home and when your car's parked. If you're out all day, a battery might be worth the extra investment. If you're home during peak solar hours, you can skip it.
Smart answers to common solar EV charging questions
Can I add solar EV charging to my existing setup?
Yes. If you've already got solar panels, you just need to install a compatible EV charger. Your existing inverter and panels will handle it, as long as they're sized appropriately. If your system's on the smaller side, you might need to add a few more panels or upgrade your inverter. With Amber, you don't need any extra hardware to start charging from your solar, Predictive Solar works with what you've already got.
Can you charge a Tesla with solar power?
Absolutely. Teslas charge the same way as any other EV. You plug them into a standard EV charger, and if your solar's generating, that's what powers it. Tesla's Wall Connector works perfectly with rooftop solar systems, and it integrates seamlessly with Amber's smart charging features.
Do solar-powered EV charging stations work at night?
Public stations labelled "solar-powered" don't usually run on stored solar at night. They're grid-connected but offset their daytime usage with solar. At home, you'll need a battery if you want to charge from stored solar after dark. Alternatively, with Amber's wholesale pricing, you can charge from the grid at night when prices are lowest, often during times when wind energy is abundant.
Charging smarter starts with the sun
Solar EV charging isn't just about saving money, it's about taking control of your energy, cutting emissions, and making your home and car work together in a way that actually makes sense.
Whether you're starting from scratch or adding an EV to an existing solar setup, the pieces fit together more easily than most people expect. With the right system size, a decent charger, and an energy plan that actually works with your solar rather than against it, you can power your daily driving with nothing but sunshine.
Ready to make the switch? See how Amber for EVs can help you charge smarter and make the most of every ray of sunlight hitting your roof.
