You can now buy an EV for $25,000 and there’s a wide range of electric cars and SUVs for less than $45K from BYD, MG, GWM, Chery and other brands. Here are the cheapest EVs to buy in Australia right now.
Electric
How much solar energy do I need to charge my EV?
Understanding how a rooftop solar-panel system can help charge your electric car doesn't need to be complicated. Here's how to maximise energy efficiency when charging an EV.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming an increasingly common sight on Australian roads, with ownership rising alongside household investment in rooftop solar panels.
According to the Australian Automobile Association’s Electric Vehicle Index, electric vehicles accounted for 13.1 per cent of new‑car sales, up from about 9.6 per cent the year before. The Index’s latest figures show 29,298 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 12,460 plug‑in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were sold in Australia between July and September 2025.
Much of the recent growth in PHEVs was driven by newcomer BYD Automotive, which sold more than 18,000 of its popular BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute in 2025.
Whether you're looking at your first budget electric vehicle, a family EV, or are contemplating adding a PHEV ute to your driveway, pairing a home EV charger with rooftop solar panels - and even a solar battery system - can help reduce running costs, lower emissions and provide greater energy independence. But a common question for many drivers is: how much solar energy do I actually need to charge my EV at home?
The answer depends on several factors, including how far you drive, the size of your EV battery, your solar system capacity, household electricity useage and when you charge your car. Understanding these variables can help you determine whether your existing solar setup is sufficient or whether an upgrade may be worthwhile.
Can you use solar panels to charge an EV?
Yes, solar panels can charge EVs. Energy produced from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels goes to the solar system’s inverter. This inverter converts the energy into alternative current (AC) electricity, which can be used to power your EV and your home.
A smart EV charger has different modes that allow you to charge with solar power only, with a combination of solar and grid power (prioritising solar), or by a certain time the next day.
More: Installing an electric car home charger: what to know
Why charge your EV with solar power?
Charging an EV using electricity generated by your own solar panels can be one of the most cost-effective ways to power your car. Instead of buying electricity from the grid, you can use excess solar energy that would otherwise be exported at a relatively low feed-in tariff.
For many Australian households, solar charging can reduce the effective cost of EV driving to just a few cents per kilometre. It also reduces reliance on fossil fuel-generated electricity and helps future-proof your home as electricity prices continue to rise.
More: What to consider when upgrading your solar power system
It may cost more to charge your EV from public charging stations compared to charging it at home from solar energy.
How many solar panels will I need to charge an EV?
How many solar panels you need to charge your EV depends on a few factors. For many EV owners, a 6.6kW or larger solar system provides sufficient capacity to power both the home and the vehicle, particularly if charging is managed during the day.
EV battery size and energy efficiency
Most EV batteries range between 40kWh and 80kWh, although larger vehicles and utes may exceed this. However, you don't usually recharge the entire battery from empty.
A more practical measure is energy consumption per kilometre, which for most EVs sits between 14 and 20kWh per 100km, depending on vehicle size, driving style and conditions. For example, a small EV may use 15kWh per 100km, while a medium SUV may use 18–20kWh per 100km.
Average daily driving
The average Australian drives 36.4km every day. At 16kWh per 100km, that equates to roughly 5-7kWh of electricity per day to cover average driving.
Households with longer commutes or frequent road trips will naturally require more energy.
Household energy consumption versus solar system output
The amount of electricity your solar system produces depends on its size, location, orientation and time of year.
As a general guide, a 6.6kW solar system in most parts of Australia generates around 25-30kWh per day on average. A 10kW system may generate 38-45kWh per day. Production will be higher in summer and lower in winter, particularly in southern states such as Victoria and Tasmania.
More: Where's the best place to locate an EV home charger?
How much of that solar can go to your EV?
Using the Australian average driving range of 36.4km per day, and the standard EV battery efficiency of 5km/1kWh, you will need around 7.3kWH per day to charge your EV.
Most households already use a portion of their solar energy for appliances, heating, cooling and hot water. The remaining excess can be directed to EV charging.
For example:
- Daily solar generation: 28kWh
- Household daytime usage: 15kWh
- Excess available for EV charging: 13kWh
If you have a smaller solar system, however, it may not meet your needs. In that case, you may need to look at a larger solar system to offset both your home and EV charging.
More: Australia's best electric SUVs, utes and cars
Does charging time matter?
Yes. The timing of your EV charging can be just as important as the amount of charge you use.
Daytime solar charging
Charging your EV during the middle of the day allows you to use solar energy directly, maximising self-consumption and minimising grid imports. This is often the cheapest option if you work from home or have flexible charging times.
Night-time charging
If you charge your EV overnight, you'll typically be drawing electricity from the grid unless you have a home battery. Some drivers use off-peak tariffs to reduce costs, but this doesn't utilise solar directly.
Smart chargers and timers
Smart EV chargers can automatically:
- match charging speed to available solar output
- prioritise household loads
- schedule charging during peak solar hours.
These systems can significantly improve the amount of solar energy used for EV charging without requiring a larger solar system.
Smart EV home chargers make owning an EV easy. Image: Shannon Morris
Do you need a home battery to charge an EV with solar?
Recent government incentives have increased the take up of solar and home battery systems, opening up more flexible home charging options for EV owners.
Many households successfully charge their EVs using solar without a battery by charging during daylight hours, using smart charging controls, and exporting unused energy to the grid when the car isn't home.
But using a home battery adds flexibility to your home solar use. Once your solar panels have completely charged the battery, you can charge your EV during the day - purely from solar - while the battery stays full. You can also choose to charge from the battery overnight.
With a battery, you can also:
- store excess solar for evening or overnight charging
- reduce grid reliance during peak times
- provide backup power during outages (depending on system design).
Can solar fully cover EV charging year-round?
In many cases, yes - but it depends on driving habits and system size.
While summer solar may easily cover EV charging, winter may require some grid electricity, particularly for higher-kilometre drivers. Designing a system that meets average annual needs, rather than peak winter demand, is often more cost-effective.
More: Questions to ask when you test drive an electric car or hybrid
Is it worth upsizing your solar system for an EV?
For households considering an EV, installing a larger solar system upfront can be more economical than upgrading later. Panel prices are relatively low compared to other components, and inverter capacity can often be sized to accommodate future needs.
A slightly oversized system can:
- increase solar self-consumption
- reduce long-term charging costs
- support other electrification upgrades, such as induction cooking or electric heating
- improve property appeal for future sale.
Installing a larger solar system upfront may be more economical in the long term.
Does charging your EV from solar power save money?
Charging your EV from solar power can save EV owners money over time. Without solar, EV drivers will need to charge their EV from public charging stations or from non-solar household electricity bought from the grid.
Public charging stations are still generally cheaper than filling up a tank at a petrol station, especially since RACV Members save at Chargefox ultra-rapid charging stations across Australia. Charging your EV at home, however, can be more affordable than relying solely on public charging stations.
The cost of grid power usually increases over time, but solar panels can keep producing energy without additional costs. If you do need to charge your EV without a solar system, time-of-use tariffs may allow you to charge your vehicle when electricity is cheapest (usually late at night), potentially saving you money on your energy bill.
More: How much do you save with solar panels and batteries?
How long does it take to charge an EV using solar power?
Single-phase dedicated AC chargers provide a maximum speed of 7kWh for single phase supply, while three-phase AC chargers provide a maximum charging speed of 22kW. The overall charging speed is dependent on vehicle’s specifications (often limited to 11kW from AC charging) and the output capacity of the solar panels.
Using the average daily driving distance above (36.4km), this would require about 7.3kWh to charge the EV each day. Using a single-phase dedicated AC charger, this would take just over an hour to charge. Using solar power only to recharge would take longer, depending on your solar output.
More: How to charge an electric car at home and how long it can take
How do I install solar for charging my EV?
Contact an accredited solar provider to discuss your charging requirements and work out exactly how big a solar system your household will need. They can also help you gain access to any rebates or loans on offer from the government.
