How to calculate solar panel requirements based on your EV.
Imagine cutting down your electricity bills while ensuring a greener planet—solar-powered EV charging makes this a reality. As more Malaysians embrace electric vehicles, their pairing with solar energy creates a sustainable and cost-effective solution. In this article, we will look at exactly how solar-powered EV charging works, the financial and environmental benefits of such a system, and most importantly how to calculate solar panel requirements for your EV.
How Solar-Powered EV Charging Works at Home
Solar panel systems for EV charging often have photovoltaic (PV) panels that convert sunlight to electricity, an inverter to convert DC to AC, and optional energy storage in batteries. The system ranges in size, with 5 kW meeting basic needs and 10 kW meeting higher demands, to ensure a constant supply of sustainable energy for EV charging purposes. Battery storage helps store excess solar energy that can be used when solar power is not available.
Things to Consider Before Installing solar panels.
Property Type
Solar panels can only be installed on landed properties, and these units require their roof access.
Electricity Usage
Solar will work out cheaper if your monthly electricity bill exceeds RM200.
Location and Regulations
Check with local authorities to see whether they support initiatives like the NEM scheme. Not all states support such initiatives. Check to see whether the solar radiation in your location is viable for solar.
Roof Condition
Your roof has to be in good condition and installed correctly to receive maximum solar energy capture as the angle of solar radiation received of the panel is critical in determining the efficiency of the received energy.
Inclusion of battery storage
Its important that a battery storage is installed with the solar paneling system as it will store the excess energy for later use. This is mandatory for those who charge their EV vehicles during the night
Choosing the Right Installer
Choose an installer such as Energi Elite, known for its strong reputation and rave reviews, to ensure high quality in service and reliability in the equipment.
How to calculate solar panel requirements based on your EV.
In this example, we’ll take the BYD Seal as its among one of the top selling models of EV for BYD from within the recent monthly JPJ registration EV vehicles.
Step 1: Energy Efficiency of the BYD SEAL
- The BYD SEAL’s efficiency is 12.7 kWh/100 km or 0.127 kWh/km.
Step 2: Daily Distance
Lowyat users claim mileage of up to 550 km per week.
- Taking the average commute of a Malaysian driver’s annual mileage, we can get 77km /daily.
Step 3: Calculate Daily Energy Consumption
- Multiply the energy consumption per kilometer by the daily distance:
Step 4: Determine Required Solar Capacity
- Taking the average peak hour in Malaysia, which is between 4-6 hours, we can calculate the solar capacity needed to generate the daily energy:
Step 5: Solar Panel Capacity
- Take an example of a 410W (or 0.41 kW) solar panel.
Step 6: Calculate the Number of Solar Panels
- Divide the total required solar capacity by the capacity of a single solar panel:
For a daily driving distance of 77 km, you would need 4 solar panels (each rated at 410W) to fully charge a BYD SEAL, assuming that it reached a daily of 5 hours of peak sun hours.
Investment Costs for Solar-Powered EV Charging
Initial investment
Setting up a solar panel system to charge EVs requires, on average, a capital investment of MYR 40,000 to MYR 50,000, depending on the chosen capacity and quality. This encompasses the cost of the solar panels, the inverters, the installation fees, and probably battery storage if wanted.
Maintenance
While solar panel systems generally need little maintenance, there may be some occasional cleaning or inspection fees, or inverter replacement, for instance—this type of component can last for about 10-15 years.
Battery Storage
Adding the battery storage to hold the sun’s energy for charging at night will greatly raise initial costs. Battery storage can run an additional MYR 15,000 to MYR 25,000 or more, depending on capacity and type.
Why Solar-Powered EV Charging is Worth It
Electricity Bills Savings
A house owner installed a solar system in 2019 for RM31,000. Five years down the road, he is making savings worth RM300 to RM400 each month and has another five years to reach payback. This is an indication of huge savings with solar-powered EV chargers.
Government Incentives: SolaRIS Rebate for Solar-Powered EV Charging
According to a recent announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, the Malaysian government has introduced the Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme (SolaRIS). This initiative is designed to encourage the installation of solar PV systems for domestic consumers. It offers a one-time cash rebate of RM1,000 per kWac, up to a maximum of RM4,000, for eligible NEM Rakyat customers.
The rebate is available on a first-come, first-served basis from 1 April 2024 until 31 December 2024. Installations must be commissioned by 31 March 2025 to qualify. This incentive significantly reduces initial costs, making solar-powered EV charging a more financially viable option for homeowners seeking to utilize clean energy.
Net Energy Metering
Excess electricity generated by solar panels can be fed back into the grid through a net energy metering scheme to earn credits that further offset one’s electricity bill.
Environmental Impact
The above reduces the carbon footprint to the extent possible from fossil fuels in EV charging, making the whole process of energy consumption sustainable to achieve the environmentally set goals regarding reducing GHG emissions.
Energy Independence
There is a level of energy independence from the grid offered by solar-powered EV charging, especially where the cost of electricity from that grid is already high or the electricity supply is unreliable. This can be especially good in ensuring stable and predictable energy costs.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Because it offers considerable savings in monthly electricity bills, it has a payback period of just five years for an initial solar investment. Even after return on investment, owners continue benefiting from reduced energy expenses that translate into long-term financial savings.
How to Install Solar Panels in Malaysia with Energi Elite
Step 1: Consultation and Assessment
The consultation by Energi Elite checks the feasibility of your home for solar panels based on available roof space and orientation.
Step 2: System Design and Proposal
A tailor-made solar system will be designed to suit your energy requirements, after which you will be given a detailed proposal accompanied by cost and savings estimation.
Step 3: Permits and Approvals
Energi Elite is responsible for all necessary permits and approvals and undertakes compliance with local regulations.
Step 4: Installation
Mounting the panels on your roof, wiring them into an inverter, and integrating the system into your home electrical setup comprise this step.
Step 5: Test and Handover
After the installation process, Energi Elite will test the system to make sure that everything is working fine and provide you with system manuals and maintenance tips.
Step 6: Support and Maintenance
Energi Elite provides ongoing maintenance and support so your solar system never misses a beat.
Why Choose Energi Elite for Solar Panel Installation
Simple, No-Mess Process
Energi Elite ensures that the installation process is meticulous and clean; it will seem like no one was ever there. From unboxing to setup, every step is managed, keeping a clean workspace that respects the home environment, and improving it with advanced technology.
Maximum Safety and Attention to Detail
With over a decade of experience, Energi Elite persists in safety and durability by attending to minute things, such as wire protection and the high-quality materials used to ensure class and effectiveness in the installation of solar panels.
Customized Solutions for Maximum Savings
Energi Elite provides custom solar panel installation to every homeowner’s requirement. What this means is the optimal placing of panels and integration into the electrical system of a home to provide maximum energy savings.
Proven Expertise and Quality Equipment
With over 150 successful solar installations, Energi Elite insists on quality equipment for safety reasons. These are:
- Temperature protection
- IP65-rated protection level
- RCCB Type A (Japan) + MCB for safety
- Isolator for long-term shutdown
- 6mm wiring for durability
Customer Reviews on Energi Elite Solar Panel Installations
The glowing reviews by clients reflect that Energi Elite is committed to quality and satisfaction among the clients. Homeowners like Mr. Lee Wei Zhang and Mr. Arjun Kumar appreciate the equipping of top-notch equipment in addition to emphasizing the significance of safety in ensuring good performance and reliability.
Ms. Nur Aisyah was appreciative that the solar panels were integrated so well into her home and that the team still maintained the area where it was working very cleanly and in a very professional manner. These are great testimonials that showcase the level of professionalism from Energi Elite for great services in the installation of solar panels.
Conclusion
Adapting solar-powered electricity for EV charging is a strategic measure that a homeowner can take to reduce the cost of energy and generalize ecological practices. With the use of a SolaRIS rebate plan for financial harnessing and now involving Energi Elite for skilled installation, solar power can be a practical choice. An effort not only to ease house reliance on conventional energy availing but also contribute to savings in the long run.