Tesla Owners Can Now Charge Their EVs Using Solar System and Powerwall
Tesla has given Tesla vehicle and solar system owner more flexibility to harness clean energy with their latest product, ‘Charge on Solar.’ The functionality, exclusive to Tesla vehicle owners, enables EV charging using excess solar energy generated by their Tesla solar system. With Charge on Solar, Tesla owners can further leverage the capabilities of their home’s solar installation, and power their vehicles using clean energy.
Charge on Solar offers Tesla owners the ability to conveniently set their desired Charge on Solar limits using the Tesla app. By doing so, they can control the amount of excess solar energy allocated to their vehicle’s charging.
Once the Charge on Solar location is configured, the vehicle will automatically charge using only excess solar energy up to the set charge limit. Users can easily adjust their charge limits from the Tesla app or the vehicle touchscreen. This feature grants flexibility in charging preferences and allows for faster charging by raising the lower charge limit if needed.
When the charge level surpasses the set limit, the car will switch to a combination of solar and grid charging. To optimize solar charging and ensure enough range for daily driving, Tesla advises plugging in the vehicle during the daytime whenever the owner is at home.
By setting the Charge on Solar sun slider at an appropriate level, users can guarantee sufficient range even when excess solar energy is insufficient to meet the set charging limit.
According to Tesla, Charge on Solar seamlessly integrates with Tesla’s Powerwall, offering various modes such as Storm Watch, Backup Reserve, Self-Powered, Time-Based Control, and Go Off-Grid. These modes prioritize charging from different sources based on specific conditions, providing a comprehensive and efficient energy management solution.
The Charge on Solar system utilizes a smart algorithm that continuously monitors the excess solar power generated by the Tesla solar system and power consumption elsewhere in the home. When the Tesla vehicle is plugged in at the Charge on Solar location, it starts charging only with the surplus solar energy. The charging power adjusts approximately every 10 seconds to match the available excess solar power, ensuring maximum efficiency.
Before initiating charging, the vehicle may wait for at least 1.2kW of stable excess solar to ensure efficient and safe charging. If the excess solar power is not sufficient to reach the set charge limit, the vehicle will draw energy from the grid to make up the difference.
Charging an EV with excess solar energy can lead to significant cost savings by reducing dependency on grid electricity. Furthermore, using Tesla solar system to charge EVs provides some relief to electrical grids since the system can offset some of the enormous power demands from EVs.
The solution, fundamentally, gives Tesla owners another pillar that helps maximize their investment in the Tesla ecosystem, while offering flexibility, greater energy security, and less dependency on the electric grid for eco-conscious EV owners.
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