EV charger with solar panels: how to charge your car for less.

How does solar EV charging work?

A standard home EV charger draws power from the grid. A solar-integrated charger does something smarter: it reads the output from your solar inverter and your home's real-time consumption, calculates how much surplus solar power is available, and directs that surplus to charge your car.

Without a solar-integrated charger, surplus solar generation that your home is not using gets exported to the grid. Your energy supplier pays you a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rate for this: typically 4–8p/kWh. By diverting that surplus to your car instead, you use electricity that would otherwise earn you 4–8p/kWh, rather than buying grid electricity at 24.5p/kWh. The saving is around 16–20p per kWh diverted.

Solar-integrated chargers monitor this in real time:

Which chargers support solar integration?

Most major smart charger brands offer solar divert functionality. The main options in the UK:

• Zappi (myenergi): the most widely known solar charger in the UK. Three modes: fast (pure grid), eco (solar surplus plus grid top-up), eco+ (solar only). Works with most solar inverters via a CT clamp or direct connection. Compatible with the myenergi ecosystem (Eddi immersion heater diverter, Libbi battery).
• Ohme Home Pro: smart tariff integration plus solar divert via compatible inverters. Good app experience; supports Octopus Agile and similar dynamic tariffs alongside solar.
• Hypervolt Home 3: solar charging available via CT clamp integration. Works with any solar setup. Cleaner hardware than some competitors.
• Pod Point Solo 3: does not support solar divert natively. If solar integration is a priority, choose a different charger.

Connection method varies by inverter brand. Some use a direct API integration (Zappi integrates with SolarEdge, Givenergy, and others directly). Others use a CT clamp on the main supply, which measures the net import/export and infers the available surplus. Check compatibility with your inverter before choosing a charger.

How much solar do you need to usefully charge an EV?

A minimum useful setup is a 3–4kW solar array (6–8 panels). This generates roughly 2,500–3,500 kWh per year in the UK, depending on location and roof aspect. South-facing roofs at 30–35 degrees perform best; east/west roofs typically generate 20–30% less.

An EV covering 10,000 miles a year at 3.5 miles per kWh uses around 2,857 kWh. A well-sited 4kW array in England can generate close to this in a year: meaning in theory, most of your charging could come from the sun. In practice, the mismatch between when solar generates (daytime) and when you charge (often evening) reduces how much of your solar generation you actually use for the car.

This is where home battery storage makes a difference: a battery stores daytime solar generation and releases it in the evening when you plug the car in. Without a battery, solar EV charging works best if you can park at home during the day and charge while the sun is generating.

What does a solar EV charger cost?

Solar-integrated chargers cost more than basic smart chargers. Typical retail prices:

• Zappi v2: approximately £750–£900 installed
• Ohme Home Pro: approximately £800–£1,000 installed
• Hypervolt Home 3: approximately £800–£950 installed

These are within the OZEV grant eligibility range if you are a renter or leasehold flat owner. The grant covers 75% of supply and installation up to £500, regardless of charger model. After the grant, a Zappi typically costs £250–£400 out of pocket, depending on the quote.

Solar panels are a separate cost. A 4kW system in 2026 typically costs £5,000–£7,000 installed (source: Which? / BEIS Home Energy Report 2026). There is no government grant for residential solar panels in England as of November 2026, though VAT was permanently set at 0% for solar installations from April 2022.

Is solar EV charging worth it?

It makes most sense if:

If you are adding a solar array specifically to charge your car, the payback calculation is longer (5–8 years for the combined investment) and depends heavily on your mileage, local solar generation, and energy tariff. For drivers already planning solar, adding a solar-compatible charger adds modest incremental cost for a meaningful saving over the lifetime of the system.

If solar is not in your plans, an EV overnight tariff delivers similar savings on charging costs (see our guide on home EV charging costs) without the upfront investment.

Common questions