FYI: This beta trial has now come to an end and some details below may be out of date. For the latest information, visit our Solar Charging page.
We’re now rolling out an enhanced version of our software solar feature, allowing all Rolec owners to benefit from zero-cost, zero-carbon, solar-only charging without any additional hardware.
By using solar forecasting, we’re able to accurately predict the solar energy that your solar panels are producing and change the electric current on your Rolec EV charger to match this solar output. This means that you can charge your electric vehicle with only the solar power you’re producing locally.
Within the ev.energy app, you can choose from two different solar options to suit your needs.
If you use your vehicle more frequently, you may prefer to use a combination of solar and grid power to ensure your EV is always charged up each day. Just set your preference in-app.
If you’re using a combination of solar and grid power, we’ll prioritise solar charging where possible however, we’ll continue to optimise your charge for the lowest price and impact on the environment when grid power is required.
If you want to charge with only the power produced by your solar panels, choose Solar Only. This is a great option for those who only need a small top-up charge each day and want the energy they produce to go straight into their vehicle.
The feature is currently rolling out in beta to users around the world in beta. To get started, head to the “Smart” tab in the ev.energy app, tap “Solar” and set your preferences.
If you own a Rolec home charger and have solar panels, we’d love to get your feedback on our latest feature. Just message us on Twitter or Facebook, or send us an email if you’d like to join one of our user feedback sessions.
Don’t own a Rolec charger? Check out our existing software solar feature or direct hardware integration with Indra which are available to all users globally.
We’ll be launching further solar-only integrations with our charging and vehicle partners in the coming months. Stay tuned!