If you’re an electric vehicle driver, you likely have a good understanding of EV charging, and you’ve probably experimented with different options to evaluate what best fits your lifestyle and requirements. Many EV drivers, however, are missing out on the potential benefits of smart charging with solar energy, which can save you more money while further reducing your environmental impact.
Whether you’re already driving and charging an EV on a daily basis, or are considering making the switch to an electric vehicle, adding solar charging capability at home can make your energy use more sustainable. And since average residential electricity rates in the U.S. continue to rise, it’s more important than ever to explore cost-effective ways to power your EV.
Energy requirements for the Ford Mustang Mach E
To fully realize the benefits of your EV, it’s best to start by assessing its energy needs and how you can meet them sustainably. This table shows specifications for three of the most popular Ford Mustang Mach E models:
| Model | Battery size (kWh) | Battery acceptance rate (kW) | Vehicle efficiency (mi/kWh) | Average miles driven daily* (mi) |
| Ford Mustang Mach E Premium (extended range) | 88 | 10.5 | 3.41 | 37 |
| Ford Mustang Mach E Premium (standard range) | 68 | 10.5 | 3.38 | 37 |
| Ford Mustang Mach E Select (standard range) | 68 | 10.5 | 3.38 | 37 |
*The average American drives 13,476 miles annually, or about 37 miles daily.
The table shows that it takes an average of 11 kWh of energy daily to charge a Mach E.
Solar charging with Enphase
Driving an EV is a step toward reducing your carbon footprint, and using sustainably produced energy to power your EV further lowers your impact. The perfect complement is a reliable home charging station designed to draw power from a renewable energy source.
With an Enphase Energy System and an Enphase IQ EV Charger, the Enphase App can intelligently detect excess solar production and direct it toward EV charging. The app's Self-Consumption profile lets you easily prioritize charging your EV with excess solar energy. Additionally, you can use Enphase IQ Batteries, if you have them, for backup purposes or EV charging.
Cost of solar charging
Let’s begin by calculating the variable cost of charging your EV using solar energy. We’re assuming your Enphase Energy System powers 100% of your EV energy needs.
Today’s most popular solar panels are rated for 400 W of power. Considering efficiency and power loss, the maximum continuous power will be about 325 W, per observed data in the field. The duration of sunlight powering a home solar system depends on your location, roof orientation, and time of year. The data suggests the average range to be four to six hours daily.
- Using an average of five hours of daily sunlight:
325 W x 5 hours = 1.625 kWh of energy per panel - To achieve 11 kWh of energy daily for EV charging, the system requires:
11 kWh / 1.625 kWh = 6.77 panels (7 panels for ease of calculation) - This is an approximate home energy system size of:
7 x 400 W = 2.8 kW
To charge a Mustang Mach E with solar energy, a dedicated system of 2.8 kW is recommended, with an average installed system cost of around $3.30 per watt.
- Therefore, the fixed cost of the home energy system is 2.8 kW x $3.30 = $9,240
- Apply the federal tax credit of 30%, and the cost drops to $6,468
Once installed, the Enphase Energy System comes with a 25-year warranty, and the energy produced over that time is used to calculate the dollar rate per kWh:
- $6,468 / (10 x 365 x 25) = $0.07 per kWh of energy produced
So, an average daily commute of 37 miles, requiring about 11 kWh of energy daily, costs about $0.70 daily or $281 per year.
Cost of grid charging
The cost of charging an EV using grid electricity varies depending on the utility and state. While some utilities offer specific plans tailored for EV charging, many also provide off-peak and peak rates based on time of use.
To understand the average cost of charging an EV using grid electricity, we’ll use the national average rate of $0.173 per kWh.
At this rate, charging a Mustang Mach E for an average daily commute of 37 miles totals $1.90 daily or $695 annually.
Fixed costs
The IQ 60 EV Charger is the best option in the Enphase lineup for charging a Ford Mustang Mach E Premium or Select with solar. Considering the cost of the IQ 60 EV Charger ($1,099) and installation ($1,000), the fixed cost is about $1,469 after the 30% federal tax credit.
More savings with solar
Using solar power instead of grid electricity saves the average Mustang Mach E owner about $414 in the first year. Those solar savings will likely increase each year as the price of grid power keeps climbing. In this scenario, the IQ EV Charger pays for itself within the first few years and delivers cumulative savings of $2,382 after five years.
Charging your Mustang Mach E using solar energy produced at home is a significant step toward lowering your carbon footprint while saving you more than $2,000 over your next five years of sun-powered driving.
