Many homeowners are turning to electric vehicles (EVs) such as Tesla for convenience, cheap maintenance and operation, and low carbon footprint. Some are even taking it a step further using solar panels to charge their electric vehicles for maximum impact.
Of course, this begs the question of “how many solar panels are needed to charge a Tesla?” Keep reading to find out.
What are battery capacities in Tesla models?
Notably, the number of solar panels a homeowner will require to charge a Tesla will depend on the battery size in the Tesla model being charged, the distance and frequency of driving, and the solar panel efficiency. Below are tesla models in the market and their standard battery capacities;
- Tesla model S-This model has a battery capacity of 85 kWh with a range of 400 miles.
- Tesla model 3-This model has a battery capacity of 50 kWh with a range of 220 miles.
- Tesla model X-This model has a battery capacity of 100kWh with a range of 340 miles.
- Tesla model Y– This has a battery capacity of 80 kWh with a range of 240 miles.
- Tesla Roadster and Cybertruck-These models have a battery capacity of 100 kWh with a range of 240 miles and 120 kWh with a range of 460 miles, respectively.
Estimating How Many Solar Panels Are Needed To Charge a Tesla
According to statistics, an average American commutes 30 miles daily to and from work. A tesla will require around 9.3 kWh of energy to cover 30 miles daily.
Assuming that a tesla battery will never be completely discharged, the following calculations apply to determine the number of solar panels required to charge the battery under the standard five peak-sun-hours per day with common solar panels.
9.3 kWh per day / 5 hours of sunlight per day = 1.86 kW to meet Tesla’s energy requirements
However, due to minor power losses during conversion, this should be further divided by about 78 percent, assuming power losses of about 22 percent.
1.86 kW/ 0.78= 2.38 kW
Finally, to determine the number of solar panels required to sufficiently produce the 2.38 kW using the average domestic solar panel rated 250 watts should be;
2.38 kW / 0.25 kW = 9.52 solar panels, approximately 10.
Join the Solar Revolution
So there you have it! It takes approximately 10 solar panels to charge a Tesla. Considering that the average home requires almost twice that amount, most residential solar systems should be able to handle that job without trouble.
Start your green energy journey today with Solar Optimum. Our energy consultants are standing by to answer your solar panel equipment and installation questions. Contact us for an estimate.
