EV+PV

There is much to like about Electric Vehicles (EVs). There is much to like about Solar Photovoltaic power collection (PV) too. But when you put the two together, something extra happens… You can now think of your solar system as being paid off, not by offsetting the cost of the electricity that runs your house, but by offsetting the cost of the gas you’re not buying.

Below, I am going to list the real-world drive data from our two company cars, a Nissan Leaf EV and a Prius Prime PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle). Sorry hybrids, you don’t get to play this game. Then I’ll list our real-world solar array data and calculate the value of the electricity we have harvested from our PV array. And answers some important questions; How much PV do I need to offset driving an EV or PHEV?

3.24 kW PV array:

Number of panels:                           12

Power per panel:                              344 watts

Annual production:                         4,128 kWh

Cost after rebates:                          $5,796

Thermal solar panels on lower roof, PV array on upper roof

The calculations will vary, of course, from place to place and car to car and driver to driver. These cars live in Carbondale, Colorado. The climate is pretty good for EVs; not too hot, not too cold. Typically highway driving punctuated by small towns. The road is never level, up valley, down valley, up the hill, down the hill. We run Blizzak winter tires for about five months, and Michelin Energy-savers the rest of the year. I’m no engineer; there is much rounding and estimating used in these calculations. For projections I will use these fuel values:

Street value of a kWh:                    $.11 (summer 2019)

Street value of a gallon of gas:    $2.60 (summer 2019)

Total annual value of electricity produced by PV based on utility cost of kWh:

Total:                                                $520

Confluence company cars at local EV event.

2013 Nissan Leaf EV, 24.0 kWh battery

Miles driven annually:                     13,000

Miles/kWh: (average)                      4.4 miles/kWh

Total kWh consumed:                      3,022

Percentage of public charging:      10%

kWh provided by PV:                       2,720

Leaf consumes:                                 66% of our production

Leaf consumes:                                 8.0 panels

Miles per panel:                                1,463

Confluence company cars at local EV event.

2018 Prius Prime PHEV, 8.8 kWh battery

Miles driven annually:                      19,000

Hybrid ratio:                                       50% EV : 50% ICE (Internal Combustion Engine)

MPG:                                                    80.5

Gallons of gas:                                   118

Cost of gas:                                         $307

Miles/kWh:                                        5.4 miles/kWh

Total kWh consumed:                      1,713

Percentage of public charging:       10%

kWh provided by PV:                       1,542

Prius consumes:                                 37% of our production

Prius consumes:                                 4.5 panels

Miles per panel:                                 2,111

Total annual value of electricity produced by PV based on gasoline offset:

If 22,500 miles were driven in a gas drive vehicle (e.g. 2005 Subaru Outback, 32 MPG)

Gas offset EV portion of Prius:      $772

Gas offset Leaf:                                 $1,056

Total value of gas offset:                 $1,828 (703 gallons)

Every solar PV panel you put on your roof will push your EV 1,500-2,000 miles.

So, the bottom line is that our PV system makes us $520 worth of electricity annually, not bad. It would pay itself off in about 11 years at that rate. But when we put that electricity into an EV, it saves us from buying $1,828 worth of gas over our old ICE car, which translates to a 3.2 year payback!

I review quite a few residential IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) submittals, and I would estimate that three-quarters of them are submitted as a straight-up prescriptive submittal. That’s when the table below is followed, without deviation. There is nothing wrong with this approach, but if a little flexibility is required, then leave the R-values behind and look at assemblies as U-factors, that can be morphed and traded around.

The U-factor alternative (2015 IECC R402.1.4) is a very powerful and useful method, but I don’t see it get used much.

I think it can be useful to use a chart like the one below to see building assembly alternatives by U-factor. PDF link…  U-factor alternative assemblies

For instance; can I substitute OVE (Optimum Value Engineering) or Efficient Framing for CI (Continuous Insulation) in zones 6 & 7. The Prescriptive compliance alternative would have at least R5 CI installed on the exterior of the above grade walls. The U-factor alternative says; use any wall with a U-factor of .045 or better. So, at a glance, from the list, I see that I could substitute R3.6 CI (i.e. 1.5” ZIP insulated sheathing) for the R5 CI and bump up the cavity insulation number to R23 and build the wall with efficient framing techniques. Don’t like CI at all? Then substitute an efficient framed wall with the cavities foamed solid to R36. Don’t like CI or efficient framing? Then you could use a 6” SIP, ICF or straw bale. Check the total U-factor of your specific assembly, it could vary from the U-factors on the list by a couple of thousands. Here is a super-good online wall calculator for R-values and U-factors including checks for moisture control.

https://www.appliedbuildingtech.com/fsc/calculator

If you still don’t like the choices that the U-factor alternatives gives, then it is time to move up to the Total UA Alternative, AKA RESchecks (2015 IECC R402.1.5). Often, projects get bumped out of the prescriptive path alternative because the insulation can’t easily be provided in a particular location. Then the Total UA Alternative could be used, because it can trade-off different assemblies. For instance, slab edge insulation, often hard to do at a door threshold, patio or deck attachment or behind stone veneer. The uninsulated slab edge can be “traded” for surplus U-factors on completely different assemblies anywhere in the project.

If you still don’t like the choices that the Total UA Alternative gives, or still having trouble reaching the code threshold, then it is time to go fully custom with the Simulated Performance Alternative (2015 IECC R405) or the Energy Rating Index (ERI) Compliance Alternative (2015 IECC R406). Both alternatives can checked by the software at the same time, but the ERI Alternative is more powerful, because it take into consideration low infiltration rates, high efficacy lighting, appliances and renewable energy sources. The only certified ERI program currently is the HERS Rating.

Please contact us if we can help you comply with the energy code in the smartest possible way.

Link to Colorado Energy Conservation Code Hub for; Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Eagle County, Pitkin County, Town of Snowmass Village, Town of Telluride and the Town of Mountain Village

Confluence already uses an electric car for site visits in the valley; 2013 Nissan Leaf.

But it won’t make it to our HERS Rating inspections and blower door tests in Telluride, Mountain Village, Steamboat, Vail Valley and Summit County.

So we have added a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) to the “fleet”.

A 2018 Toyota Prius Prime…

2018 Prius Prime

Some features…

• Hybrid Synergy Drive with Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission
• 55 city/53 highway MPG
• 133 MPGe
• 640-mile EPA-estimated total driving range
• 25-mile EPA-estimated EV Mode driving range