How California EV Owners Can Beat NEM 3.0 with Solar Smart Charging

December 18, 2024
Aaron Sweet
Blog

Aaron Sweet, our Director of Partnerships, explains how California EV drivers can maximize solar self-consumption with smart charging and unlock significant energy savings.

In my role, I speak daily with solar companies, installers, and electrical wholesale distributors, and we all agree - the growth in residential solar and battery installations is remarkable. But here’s what many don’t yet realize: pairing solar with EV charging creates a winning combination. 

At ev.energy, we’ve focused on helping electric vehicle owners maximize the benefits of solar energy through our smart charging app - making "charging with sunshine" a reality for customers worldwide.

Our Solar EV Charging solution connects seamlessly with most EVs, Level 2 chargers, and inverters while factoring in electricity rates and carbon emissions. This means customers get the cleanest and most affordable charging experience tailored to their unique needs.

Let’s dive into why this matters so much in California - and how solar companies and installers can create a win-win for themselves and their customers by integrating solar smart charging into their offerings.

Why Solar Smart Charging Matters in California

California’s solar landscape presents a unique opportunity, especially with the shift from Net Metering 2.0 (NEM2.0) to Net Metering 3.0 (NEM3.0) for many potential new residential solar customers in the state. Under NEM3.0, exporting excess solar power to the grid earns minimal credits - often as low as 1 cent per kWh. This makes the "self-consumption" of solar power crucial for homeowners to maximize their investment.

Most California solar customers now invest in home batteries, creating a bottleneck in supply. The average system includes 1.5 batteries (roughly 15kWh of storage), but this capacity is far less than needed to absorb all the sunshine during peak production.

Enter EVs: The Ideal Match for Residential Solar

An EV, with a battery 5x the size of a typical home setup, is the perfect solution to soak up that extra solar energy. With ev.energy’s ev.solar solution, homeowners can:

  • Prioritize solar for household consumption
  • Redirect any excess solar to their EVs
  • Utilize home batteries during peak times
  • Charge their EVs at off-peak rates overnight

It’s an elegant, software-only solution - no expensive upgrades, no electrician visits, just seamless savings.

Why EV Drivers Choose ev.solar

Our data shows that ev.energy’s solar EV charging product can save customers in California between $200 and $1,000 annually by maximizing the self-consumption of excess solar energy instead of earning a minimal amount from the grid.

Additionally, for some people, including those who work from home and have their car plugged in during most sunshine hours, the solution eliminates the need for a home battery, as these customers can often rely solely on their EV for energy storage.

A Win-Win for Everyone

Solar EV Charging isn’t just great for drivers; it’s a game-changer for solar installers too. Here’s how:

  • Offer Significant Customer Savings: $200–$1,000 annually makes investing in solar more appealing.
  • Drive New Solar Sales: Help hesitant buyers say “yes” to solar without the added cost of a battery and show customers why they should ‘power up’ the size of the solar array they should buy.
  • Unlock Upsell Potential: Revisit your existing customer base and offer additional panels to meet their growing energy needs.

At ev.energy, we’re making the transition to clean energy more straightforward and more rewarding. With ev.solar, homeowners can truly unlock the sun's power - for their home, car, and wallet.

Ready to unlock the potential of solar smart charging for your customers? Contact Aaron Sweet today to explore how ev.solar can support your business.

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