Solar Charging - Charging Management as a Cost-Saver
Spring is here, bringing plenty of solar energy. Those who are already embracing the magical trio of Load Management, Solar Charging, and Electric Vehicles hold the key to an ecologically and economically optimized electric fleet. In this blog post, we will explore why this combination has a decisive impact on fleet costs, focusing particularly on the role of intelligent load management.
One advantage of solar charging lies in long-term cost savings. By generating their own solar power, companies can reduce energy costs and strengthen financial independence. The sun, as a renewable energy source, keeps operating costs for solar installations relatively low, leading to an improved cost structure for the company.
With decreasing feed-in tariffs and rising electricity costs, the focus is increasingly on self-consumption of photovoltaic power. Instead of feeding self-produced power into the grid at low remuneration rates, it is advisable to use or efficiently store as much energy as possible.
The savings per self-consumed kilowatt-hour (kWh) currently amount to up to €0.32. This results from avoiding expensive grid electricity (up to €0.40/kWh) and the complex storage of self-produced PV power in the grid.
To maximize self-consumption, flexible consumers play a crucial role. Electric vehicles are particularly well-suited for this purpose, as they typically stand much longer than they are charged (an average of 22 hours per day). This allows for flexible charging at optimal times, ensuring that a significant portion of self-produced PV power is effectively utilized.
Additionally, excess PV power is fed back into the public grid. While energy providers compensate for this process, subsidized solar installations are restricted from supplying their full capacity to the grid, resulting in capped power feed-in and the production of solar power without compensation.
Utilizing self-generated solar power for charging electric vehicles makes companies less dependent on external energy sources. Especially during times of rising energy prices and potential supply shortages, self-production of energy offers a reliable alternative. The cost structure remains stable, promoting not only business continuity but also contributing to energy supply security.
A crucial factor for the success of solar charging in companies is the implementation of intelligent load management systems. These systems optimize energy flow by controlling the timing and quantity of charging based on solar production. Connecting charging stations to solar installations ensures that electric vehicles are preferentially charged when solar energy is available.
With intelligent charging management, all details of the solar installation can be accurately captured in real-time. The data obtained is used for precise forecasting of expected solar output, allowing for optimal planning of charging processes during active solar integration.
An intelligent, data-driven vehicle load management coordinated with building energy management can result in significant cost reductions:
With an average power consumption of 2,500 kWh for electric travel, a 7 kWp solar installation with a corresponding storage system can charge an electric vehicle up to 80 percent. This enables cost savings in charging electric vehicles of up to 50 percent compared to household electricity (EUPD Research).
Without intelligent load management, the generated energy and the charging process of an electric fleet are not intelligently synchronized. Charging would occur ad-hoc only with available power, without proactive, planned charging of electric vehicles. Reliable charging planning is both battery-friendly, increases vehicle availability, and prevents operational failures of electric vehicles.
PV installations and electric vehicles form an unbeatable team, especially when smartly designed charging management is integrated. This combination not only creates synergies to efficiently utilize renewable energy but also brings financial benefits and positive environmental effects. For each charged kilowatt-hour, it means not only an active contribution to environmental friendliness but also a smart decision for sustainable mobility and financial savings.
Learn more about solar charging and e-mobility in our blog post:
Solar power in focus: More efficient charging with our enhanced solar charging feature
Sustainable and more cost-effective: photovoltaics and electromobility in the vehicle fleet
