optimising EV charing with solar + Octopus go

[tylerdurden]

Hi. I have a 7kw solar array recently installed.

Currently the EV's are set to charge during the octopus go cheap rate of 7p from 2330 to 0530hrs.

I have not had a summer yet with solar but looking for advice as to the best way to set it up in summer days.

Is there a way to continue prioritising charging at the low tariff overnight but somehow to allow solar to top up during the day?

Or will I need to manually set this each day as needed?

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[DasYeoman]

Solar in London, huh?

 

[f1eng]

Hi. I have a 7kw solar array recently installed.

Currently the EV's are set to charge during the octopus go cheap rate of 7p from 2330 to 0530hrs.

I have not had a summer yet with solar but looking for advice as to the best way to set it up in summer days.

Is there a way to continue prioritising charging at the low tariff overnight but somehow to allow solar to top up during the day?

Or will I need to manually set this each day as needed?

My solar setup is old and only 3.25 kW. It is a FIT system connected to supply the mains when excess generation. I don't have a cheap over night source of leccy.
I just plug my car(s) (we have one EV and 2 plug in hybrids) when it is sunny.
I also use the solar electricity via a Solar iBoost device to direct any excess power to the hot water immersion heater and heat store.

There may be a foolproof automatic system but I am afraid I just look at the generation monitor and plug in when high...

 

[n3ophyte]

Rather depends how smart your EVSE (wall charger) is. The myenergi Zappi for example plays well with solar installations and can divert as much or as little excess solar to your EV during the day as you like.

What do you have?

 

[W1NGE]

Hi. I have a 7kw solar array recently installed.

Currently the EV's are set to charge during the octopus go cheap rate of 7p from 2330 to 0530hrs.

I have not had a summer yet with solar but looking for advice as to the best way to set it up in summer days.

Is there a way to continue prioritising charging at the low tariff overnight but somehow to allow solar to top up during the day?

Or will I need to manually set this each day as needed?

You may benefit from HEM (Home Energy Manager) which can balance dual power sources such as solar and grid.

Porsche make one (as do others).

 

[Dave Birch]

I have a Zappi charger and Octopus. I used to charge using solar but it is more cost effective to let Octopus suck up your excess solar and pay you 15p per kWh. When I plug my Porsche in, with zappi set to Fast, the octopus app creates a time schedule to charge to my desired %. All at 7p per kwh and not just overnight!

 

[Hootch280]

It's not about your Solar panel Array size its about your inverter. All your Solar power generation goes through you Inverter ( coverts the Solar DC to AC ) and then into your house - or feed back to the energy supplier.
Your home charging point draws 7KW AC on average to charge your car (32Amps)
You would think that there would be a way but the DC output if you are utilising it ( that requires a Hybrid converter ) to charge home ( DC ) batteries your charges as a much lower rate since all up they are only probably only 10 KW total storage - not 100KW like your car.
So right now there is no way to charge your car directly from solar although home batteries do use solar as a priority before the solar is fed back to the grid.

 

[tylerdurden]

That’s all really helpful.

Dave Birch; great comment. Hadn’t thought of that , but you’re right; better to pay 7p for the EV and earn 15p FIT.

I have a Tesla powerwall 3. I thing the Tesla gateway will direct solar directly to feed the house (which includes EV)

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