Pretty amazing when you think about it.
Even more amazing when you actually see it.
We’re not describing some sci-fi alternate reality. This novel concept is already here – and the trend is quickly spreading as electric vehicle (EV) owners increasingly use their solar installations to fully charge their cars.
In fact, nearly 40% of EV owners in California have solar panels already installed. The financial and environmental benefits of combining solar + driving are just too hard to ignore.
But first a little background on what’s “fueling” this trend.
1. The Rise of San Diego Solar Installation Projects
The first trend is already well documented. In San Diego, grid electricity prices keep going up every year. In 2013 alone, SDG&E has increased its rates between 12% and 40% – depending on your tier.
On their own, these electricity price hikes are reason enough for many San Diego homeowners and businesses to explore their solar installation options.
But you also have falling solar panel prices. Installing a new photovoltaic (PV) system is becoming increasingly affordable for average users.
In fact, the average cost of a residential solar PV installation is roughly $10K in San Diego – after factoring in all relevant incentives.
And when you include San Diego’s generous net metering program, it becomes possible for solar power producers to receive negative electricity bills every month.
Let’s look at the second trend.
2. The Rise of EV Ownership in San Diego
When you have an electric vehicle that you can plug into a normal outlet, this means no more gasoline pumps or pollution – kind of.
You see, when you plug your EV into a standard outlet, you’re still charging your vehicle with electricity generated from fossil fuel. So although there’s very little on-site pollution, you’re still creating CO2 exhaust somewhere in the world (usually at the closest power station).
However, when you plug your EV into a solar installation instead, you can fully charge your vehicle with zero pollution. That’s an environmental win-win.
But it gets even better.
Plugging your EV into solar isn’t simply great for the environment. It’s also great for your pocketbook. In a cost-per-mile comparison of driving on gas vs. grid electricity vs. solar – solar power wins by a landslide.
In addition, coupling your electric vehicle with solar can actually shorten the payback period of your installation – sometimes by as much as 50%. In a region like San Diego, this means potentially recouping all solar installation costs in 2 to 3 years instead of the already short 4 to 6 years.
Are you already an EV owner? Or are you thinking about installing solar panels on your property?
Contact us today for a free, no obligation solar consultation. The sooner you do, the sooner you can begin driving on pure sunshine.
