# Can I charge my electric car from solar panels? | Eco Solar > Charging an electric car from solar panels in Derby: how solar-aware chargers work, what a Derby roof makes each month, and why winter still needs the grid. URL: https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/charge-electric-car-with-solar-panels/ 1. [Home](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) 2. [EV Charger Installation](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/ev-charger-installation/) 3. Can I charge my electric car from solar panels? Learn # Can I charge my electric car from solar panels? [Eco Solar Panels UK](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) fits solar panels and EV chargers across Derby, often together. This guide explains how charging from your own panels works and how much it can realistically cover through the year. Published 30 September 2026 · Updated 30 September 2026 · By Eco Solar Panels UK **Short answer:** Yes, with a charger that has a solar or surplus mode. It sends power your panels would otherwise export into the car. How much it covers depends on the season and when the car is at home: a lot in a Derby summer, little in winter, when overnight charging on a cheaper tariff does most of the work. ## How solar charging works A charger with a solar or surplus mode watches how much power your panels are sending to the grid. Instead of exporting it for a few pence, the charger puts it into the car. When a cloud passes and the surplus drops, the charger slows down or pauses. Some chargers can top up with a little grid power to keep charging steady, if you choose. The key condition is that the car has to be plugged in while the sun is out. For households where the car sits on the drive during the day, solar charging works well. For a car that is at work all day, most charging will still happen overnight. ## What a Derby roof makes through the year PVGIS gives a south-facing roof in central Derby about 979 kWh per kWp a year ([PVGIS](https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/)), but it is spread very unevenly. For each kWp of panels, a Derby roof makes about 121 kWh in July but only about 34 kWh in December. So a 4 kWp system makes roughly 480 kWh in July and about 140 kWh in December. After the house takes its share, the summer surplus can cover a useful amount of local driving. In winter there is little left over for the car. Got an EV and a sunny roof? A solar-aware charger and panels can be quoted together. Call for a free quote. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) ## Winter and overnight tariffs Because winter solar is so limited, most people with an electric car and panels use two approaches through the year: solar charging from spring to autumn and a time-of-use tariff with cheap overnight electricity in winter. A good charger handles both, switching between a solar mode and a scheduled overnight charge. ## Adding a battery A battery stores daytime solar for the evening. It can charge the car too, but a battery is usually better used running the house after dark, because the car can charge cheaply overnight. If you have both, set them up so they don’t work against each other. [Solar battery storage](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-battery-storage/) covers the options. ## Costs and grants Checkatrade lists EV charger installation in Derby at £651 to £1,014, averaging £805 ([Checkatrade](https://www.checkatrade.com/Search/Electric-Vehicle-Charger-Installation/in/Derby)). The government’s chargepoint grant pays 75% of the cost, up to £500, for people who rent or own and live in a flat and have private off-street parking ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/electric-vehicle-chargepoint-grant-household)). [EV charger installation](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/ev-charger-installation/) covers the details. ## Bottom line Yes, with a charger that has a solar or surplus mode. In a Derby summer, panels can cover a good share of local driving if the car is home in the day. In winter they cover much less, so cheap overnight charging does most of the work. Call 01332 919162 (+441332919162), 9am to 7pm, 7 days. ## Questions people also ask ### Do I need a special charger to use solar? You need a charger with a solar or surplus mode, which watches what your panels are exporting and adjusts the charging to match. A basic charger will still charge the car, but it won't follow the solar output. ### Can the car charge from my battery? It can, but it usually isn't the best use of the battery, which is better kept for the house in the evening. The charger and battery can be set up so the battery isn't emptied into the car unless you want it to be. ### Is there a grant for an EV charger? If you rent or own and live in a flat and have private off-street parking, the government chargepoint grant covers 75% of the cost, up to £500. Homeowners in houses aren't eligible for that grant. Related service [EV Charger Installation](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/ev-charger-installation/) A home charge point on the drive, set up to soak up spare solar in the day and cheap overnight rates the rest of the time. [View service](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/ev-charger-installation/) Talk it through Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) ## More guides - [Decision Guide Is a home battery worth it without solar panels?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/home-battery-without-solar/) - [Decision Guide How much do solar panels cost in Derby?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-panel-cost-derby/) - [Decision Guide Is this a good solar quote?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/check-a-solar-quote/) - [Learn Are plug-in solar panels worth it?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/plug-in-solar-panels/)