There are already over 2,000,000 fully electric cars on roads in the UK, and with the government’s plans to continue phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2030, that number will surely grow. Many businesses have and continue to add electric vehicle charging to their premises to support employees and adapt to these changes.
But it begs the question: How can you manage the rising energy costs of charging EVs at scale?
Solar panels can help you generate your own electricity on-site and reduce how much power you buy from the National Grid. Pair that with smart EV charging and battery storage, and you can start using more of your own renewable energy to power your vehicles during the day.
Here at Going Green Renewables, we’ve seen this smarter solar setup benefit warehouses, workshops, dealerships, and offices across the South East. So if you’re looking for a way to keep running costs down and still provide cleaner energy at your business, keep reading or get in touch with our team for advice.
What is smart EV charging?
Smart EV charging connects to your internet to give you control over when and how your electric vehicles charge. Instead of charging vehicles at full power all the time, smart charging systems use data to adapt to energy consumption, electricity tariffs, and available solar energy throughout the day.
So if your solar panels are producing plenty of electricity during sunny afternoons, your EV chargers can prioritise using that solar energy first before pulling power from the National Grid.
How can EV charging work for businesses?
There’s no single setup that works for every business. A warehouse with a fleet of vans will use energy very differently from an office with a few employee charging bays. The same goes for retail parks, schools, manufacturing sites, and hospitality venues.
That’s why commercial EV charging usually works best when it’s planned into the rest of your solar setup. This could involve combining one or more of the following: solar systems, battery storage, smart EV chargers, solar inverters, and export control systems.
The goal is to make charging practical without pushing energy bills through the roof.
How does solar energy reduce EV charging costs?
If you have solar panels, then you’re already generating renewable energy – energy that doesn’t come from the National Grid and that you don’t have to pay for. If you also have EV chargers on site, then you can start to use the free electricity generated to charge your EVs.
But it can happen the other way too. In fact, we’ve seen it work particularly well for businesses that installed EV chargers first, only to later realise how much extra demand they’ve added to their building. A few vans charging overnight is one thing. Multiple chargers running throughout the day is another.
We saw this recently with Thames Motor Group in Slough, a busy automotive business with growing electricity demands. They started out with 9 EV chargers on site to support the increase of electric vehicles coming through their doors. But without solar panels installed, their energy costs soon rose.
To help make costs more manageable, we installed a large solar PV system so they could charge the vehicles while solar panels generate electricity at peak times. Instead of buying expensive electricity from the grid, Thames Motor Group can now use renewable solar energy generated on-site thanks to our commercial solar integration.
You can read the full Thames Motor Group case study here to see how the system works in practice.
Generating your own power helps reduce how much electricity you need to buy from energy suppliers at fluctuating rates. And while it can involve initial costs to invest in, you will start to see financial benefits over time, such as:
- Lower electricity bills
- Greater energy independence
- Protection against rising electricity prices
- Lower carbon emissions
Plus, you can further maximise your power output with other useful additions:
Maximising solar energy with battery storage for EV charging
Battery storage simply allows you to save excess solar energy your system generates during quiet periods that would usually be exported back to the National Grid. You can keep more solar power for later use, which is helpful if your company vehicles return later in the day or need to charge overnight.
Utilising energy management systems
On large commercial sites, energy management systems can make charging electric cars more efficient by helping you decide where your electricity should go and when. These systems can be used to monitor energy production, battery power, solar charging demand, and how much grid electricity you use.
What types of businesses could benefit from using solar panels and EV chargers on-site?
Any business with regular electricity use, vehicle charging demand, or suitable roof space could potentially benefit from combining solar power and EV charging.
Some sectors tend to see stronger returns than others.
Logistics, distribution, and transportation
Businesses operating fleets often have some of the highest fuel costs and electricity demands. As more companies transition away from diesel vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles, charging infrastructure becomes essential. But charging several vehicles every day can become expensive very quickly.
Solar powered EV charging helps combat some of those costs by generating renewable electricity during working hours. Large warehouse roofs also tend to offer excellent space for solar panel installations.
Manufacturing and industrial
Manufacturing sites often operate during daylight hours, which works well for solar generation. Many industrial buildings also have large roof areas and high ongoing electricity usage. That creates a strong opportunity to use solar energy directly on-site rather than exporting it elsewhere.
For businesses with forklifts, pool vehicles, or electric vans, solar EV charging can become part of a wider effort to reduce operating costs and improve energy efficiency.
Public sector
Schools, councils, healthcare facilities, and public buildings are under pressure to reduce carbon emissions while managing tight budgets. Installing solar panels and EV charge points can help lower long-term electricity bills while supporting these sustainability targets.
Some organisations may also qualify for support schemes like the Workplace Charging Scheme, which can help reduce installation costs for EV charging stations.
Retail sector
Retail parks, supermarkets, and shopping centres are installing more EV chargers as drivers expect charging facilities while they shop. But chargers also increase electricity demand. Solar power helps to balance out some of that demand during trading hours, which can be beneficial, especially for buildings with large roof areas and long opening hours.
Get expert advice on solar panels and EV charging for your business with Going Green
At Going Green Renewables, we help businesses design systems that work for their site and energy needs, and we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all type of solution. We’ll look carefully at your energy demand and roof space to determine how many solar panels you’ll need and the kind of energy price savings you could be looking at.
If you want honest advice on commercial renewable energy systems, call our friendly team on 01252 560 587 or contact us with your enquiry. We’ll help you explore your options and provide a free, no-obligation quote when you’re ready.