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), 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.
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 covers the options.
Costs and grants
Checkatrade lists EV charger installation in Derby at £651 to £1,014, averaging £805 (Checkatrade). 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). 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, 9am to 7pm, 7 days.