Switching to an electric car is one of the biggest steps a household can take towards lower running costs and a smaller carbon footprint. But where and how you charge makes an enormous difference to both. Charge thoughtlessly on a standard rate and you’ll save less than you hoped; charge intelligently from solar and cheap overnight tariffs and the cost per mile can drop to a fraction of petrol or diesel.
Here’s how to get the most out of home charging, especially if you already have — or are considering — solar panels and storage.
Why a dedicated home charger beats a three-pin plug
It’s technically possible to charge from a normal socket, but it’s slow and not designed for the sustained current an EV draws. A dedicated 7kW home charger fills your car far faster — typically an overnight charge from near-empty — and includes safety features and smart controls a plug simply can’t offer.
Crucially, smart chargers can talk to your tariff, your solar and your battery, which is what unlocks the real savings.
Solar-aware charging
A solar-aware charger monitors how much surplus electricity your panels are producing and diverts it straight into your car. Instead of exporting that surplus to the grid for a few pence, you’re effectively fuelling your vehicle for free with energy you generated yourself.
Most of these chargers offer modes that let you choose how aggressively to use solar — for example, charging only from genuine surplus, or topping up with a little grid power to guarantee a minimum charge by morning.
Off-peak scheduling
The sun won’t always cover a full charge, particularly in winter or after a long drive. This is where smart scheduling comes in. Paired with a time-of-use tariff, your charger automatically waits for the cheapest overnight window and tops the car up then — no need to remember to set anything.
- Charge from surplus solar during the day for the lowest possible cost
- Fall back to cheap off-peak grid rates overnight, scheduled automatically
- Pull from your home battery in the evening if you have one
- Set a guaranteed minimum charge so the car is always ready when you are
“Done properly, home charging turns your own roof into your fuel station — most of your everyday driving can cost next to nothing.”— Generating Energy
Bringing it all together
The real magic happens when solar, storage and EV charging work as one system. Surplus daytime generation charges your battery and your car; in the evening, stored energy keeps the house running and tops up the vehicle; and anything still needed is pulled in at the cheapest off-peak rate. It’s a joined-up setup that quietly minimises both your bills and your emissions.
Whether you want a tidy standalone charger or a fully integrated solar-and-storage setup, we’ll recommend what genuinely fits your driving habits and home. Book a free assessment and we’ll map out the smartest way to charge.