Can you charge an electric car from solar panels in Scotland?

On bright days a well-designed array can produce enough surplus to charge an electric car directly. For much of the Scottish year you will still need some grid top-up, especially in winter. A battery helps by storing surplus solar so the car can use it later.

It depends on your roof, how far you drive and when the car is at home. The surveyor works this out for your property and shows the assumptions in your quotation, rather than quoting a standard number of panels.

Yes. A battery stores surplus solar generation during the day so the car can charge from it in the evening or overnight. Without a battery, excess solar is exported to the grid for a low payment and you buy power back later at the full rate.

Solar generation in Scotland drops sharply in the winter months. On heavily overcast days the panels produce very little, and the car charges from the grid on an overnight rate instead. The system is designed around the whole year, not the darkest weeks.

In summer, charging during the sunniest hours uses the most solar generation. In winter, charging overnight on a time-of-use tariff usually costs less. A smart charger can schedule charging automatically around whichever suits the conditions.