The number of solar panels needed to charge a Tesla electric vehicle (EV) will depend on the model you have, on average, it would take around 8 to 10 solar panels to charge a Tesla Model S, which has a battery capacity of 85 kWh. However, that depends on your daily usage—here’s why.
As a general rule, 10 solar panels rated at 300 watts each will be required to charge a Tesla electric vehicle if the daily mileage was around 30 miles, which is the average commute distance in the USA. The energy needed is about 6kWh, representing about 6.5% of A Tesla S 85kWh battery.
You need 94 kWh to 118 kWh to fully charge your vehicle. A solar panel produces roughly 2 kWh per day, so you’d think that this would equate to about 50 to 60 solar panels. However, you’re not likely to run the battery in your Tesla down every day.
As such, you only need enough solar panels to refill a day’s worth of driving—not a whole battery’s worth. Obviously, you would want to add more solar panels if you want to use them to power other components of your home.
It’s worth noting that if you plan on using solar panels to charge your Tesla, it’s important to have a professional assess your specific situation, including your location, the size of your home, and your energy usage, to determine the exact number of solar panels needed.
More: What Is A Solar Panel and How Does a Solar Panel Work?
