Rather than gasoline-powered combustion, electric vehicles run on an electric motor and onboard battery — charged from the grid, or from your own solar panels.
An EV stores energy in a battery, charged from a standard outlet, a dedicated home charge point, or a public station. Your solar system can power your car the same way it powers your home — directly, or via a home battery.
Most Canadians cover daily driving with an overnight home charge. Level 1 (any outlet) adds ~6–8 km of range per hour; Level 2 (240V) adds 30–50 km per hour; DC fast chargers restore most of a battery in under 45 minutes on road trips.
EVs cost more up front and far less to run — electricity is cheaper per kilometre than gasoline and maintenance is minimal (no oil changes, few moving parts). Federal incentives up to $5,000 and provincial programs like Quebec's (up to $8,000) narrow the purchase gap.
Range drops in deep cold (often 20–30%) as the battery heats the cabin. Pre-conditioning while plugged in, and a Level 2 home charger, make Canadian winters a non-issue for daily driving.
Charging an EV from a home solar system means your daily driving can literally run on sunshine.
Charge at home overnight and skip the pump.
Surplus panel production charges your car for free.
No oil changes and far fewer moving parts.
