By Holden Kooiker, Energy Systems Engineer | Updated July 19, 2025
Last month, I got a frustrated call from a Tesla owner in San Diego. He'd spent $32,000 on a beautiful solar energy system six months earlier. His electricity bills dropped to almost nothing, just like promised. But here's what nobody told him: he was still spending $180 monthly charging his Model Y at peak grid rates while his solar panels sat idle overnight.
"I thought solar was supposed to make EV charging free," he said. "What's the point of generating clean energy if I can't actually use it to charge my car?"
He's not alone. After reviewing over 2,000 solar installations, I've discovered a costly gap that's costing homeowners thousands in missed savings: most solar energy systems aren't optimized for EV charging.
If you have solar panels for your home, an electric vehicle, or you're considering either, this could be the most expensive oversight you'll make.
TL;DR: The $2,400 Problem & Free Solution
Most solar owners accidentally sell their power cheap ($0.06-0.08/kWh) and buy it back expensive ($0.35-0.48/kWh) for EV charging. NeoCharge's free app syncs your solar inverter with any EV charger so ~90% of your miles come directly from your panels, not the grid.
FAQ:
- "Will this work with my Tesla Wall Connector or Wallbox Pulsar Plus?" Yes, works with most Level 2 chargers and EV brands
- "How much can I save under NEM 3.0?" $800-1,200 annually by avoiding peak rate charging
- "Do I need to buy hardware?" No hardware required; app has free scheduling + small subscription for solar optimization; smart splitter only needed to avoid panel upgrades
The $2,400 Annual Mistake Most Solar Owners Make
Here's what typically happens when someone goes solar without thinking about EV charging:
Morning: Solar panels start producing free electricity
Daytime: Excess solar power gets sold back to the utility for pennies
Evening: You plug in your EV and pay full grid rates (often 3x higher during peak hours)
Result: You're literally selling your solar power cheap and buying it back expensive
In California's NEM 3.0 areas, this mistake costs the average EV owner $200+ monthly in unnecessary charging costs. California's Public Utilities Commission slashed solar export credits to $0.06-0.08/kWh while peak EV charging rates hit $0.42-0.48/kWh. Over 20 years? That's $48,000 in wasted savings.
The irony is painful: you invested in solar panels for home energy independence, but your biggest energy user (your EV) still depends entirely on the grid.
Why "Smart" EV Chargers Aren't Actually Smart About Solar
Walk into any Tesla store or call a solar installer, and they'll happily sell you a $800-2,000 "smart" EV charger. These chargers can schedule charging times and connect to your phone. But here's what they can't do:
❌ Track your real-time solar production
❌ Automatically prioritize solar power over grid power
❌ Optimize charging based on your solar forecast
❌ Integrate with your home's energy storage system
❌ Account for time-of-use rates and solar export rates
Most EVs end up charging at the worst possible times: evenings when solar production is zero and grid rates are highest. Your expensive solar investment becomes irrelevant for your biggest energy expense.
The Tesla Powerwall Problem
"But I have a Tesla Powerwall with my solar system," you might say. "Doesn't that solve it?"
Not quite. While a Tesla Powerwall is excellent for home backup power and peak rate avoidance, most systems aren't configured to optimize EV charging but also is very expensive. Here's why:
Limited Capacity: A single Tesla Powerwall provides 13.5 kWh of usable storage and 5.8kW continuous power—enough for only 40-50 miles of EV range. Most people need to charge directly from solar production or supplement with grid power.
Poor Integration: Your Powerwall doesn't communicate with your EV charger to coordinate charging schedules based on solar production forecasts.
Expensive Scaling: Adding more Powerwalls costs $11,000+ each, making it an expensive solution for EV charging optimization.
How NeoCharge Solves the Solar + EV Gap
After seeing hundreds of homeowners frustrated by this expensive gap, we built NeoCharge to bridge solar energy systems and EV charging. Here's how we solve both problems:
The Free NeoCharge App (The Game-Changer)
This is where the magic happens. Our app connects to your solar inverter, utility rates, weather forecasts, and driving patterns to create the perfect charging schedule. You get 90%+ solar-powered EV charging regardless of what charger you currently have.
Works with any over 90% of EV brands and most EV chargers—Tesla Wall Connector, ChargePoint, or the Wallbox Pulsar Plus. Just download the app and connect your systems.
The Smart Splitter ($275) - Bonus Solution
If you also need to avoid a $3,000-5,000 electrical panel upgrade, our smart splitter lets you share your existing 240V dryer outlet with your EV charger. No electrician needed—just plug it in.
Two separate problems, one intelligent solution:
- Solar optimization: Free app works with any setup
- Panel upgrade savings: Smart splitter eliminates expensive electrical work
Real Customer Transformation: The Martinez Family
Let me share a recent success story that illustrates the app's impact:
Before NeoCharge:
- 8.5kW solar system installed (producing beautifully)
- Tesla Model Y with Wall Connector charging nightly from 7-11 PM
- Solar energy exported to utility during day for $0.08/kWh
- EV charging from grid during peak hours at $0.42/kWh
- Monthly EV charging cost: $185
After NeoCharge app:
- Same solar system, same EV, same EVSE at home
- NeoCharge app downloaded and connected to solar inverter
- App automatically optimized charging schedule based on solar production
- EV now dynamically charges 11 AM - 3 PM when solar output peaks
- Monthly EV charging cost: $23
Annual savings: $1,944
App cost: Free for Scheduling a small subscription for solar EV charging.
"I can't believe a free app solved such an expensive problem," Maria Martinez told me. "We're finally getting the solar savings we expected when we bought our Tesla."
Why This Matters More Than Ever in 2025
Three major changes make solar EV charging optimization critical right now:
California's NEM 3.0 Reality
If you're in California, the new net metering rules slashed the value of solar exports by 75%. What used to be a $0.25/kWh credit is now $0.06/kWh. Meanwhile, peak EV charging rates hit $0.48/kWh.
Translation: Selling your solar power to the utility and buying it back for EV charging now costs you 8x more than using it directly.
Nationwide Rate Increases
Electricity rates jumped 23% nationally over the past year, with peak rates in some markets exceeding $0.50/kWh. Every hour your EV charges during peak times instead of solar production hours costs you exponentially more.
EV Adoption Acceleration
With 8% of new car sales now electric vehicles, more solar owners are discovering this expensive gap. The homeowners who solve it first will save the most over their system's 25-year lifetime.
The Simple Math That Changes Everything
Let's run the numbers on a typical scenario:
Average EV: Uses 300 kWh monthly for charging
Peak grid rates: $0.35/kWh
Solar direct use: $0.03/kWh (your system cost)
Monthly difference: 300 kWh × $0.32 = $96 monthly savings
Annual savings: $1,152
25-year savings: $28,800
NeoCharge app cost: Free scheduling + small subscription for solar optimization
Smart splitter cost: $275 (only if you need panel upgrade savings)
Payback period: Immediate for app, Immediate for the smart splitter by saving on rewiring and electric panel upgrades.
Even if you factor in cloudy days and winter production variations, the average NeoCharge user saves $800-1,200 annually on solar EV charging costs.
What About Future EVs and Home Battery Storage?
One of the smartest aspects of optimizing your solar EV charging now is future-proofing your investment:
Vehicle-to-Grid Technology: Newer EVs like the Ford Lightning can power your home during outages. NeoCharge's smart scheduling ensures your EV battery is charged with solar power before storms hit.
Expanding EV Fleet: Planning a second EV? Our system scales easily to optimize charging for multiple vehicles without expensive electrical upgrades.
Getting Started: Your 3-Step Action Plan
If you're ready to stop wasting money on EV charging while your solar panels generate free electricity, here's your path forward:
Step 1: Start with the Free App (Today)
- Download the NeoCharge App and connect your solar inverter and EV
- Works with any most EVs and EV charger(s) (Tesla, Wallbox, Audi, BMW, VW, etc.)
- Immediate optimization: Start saving on your next charging session
Step 2: Track Your Savings (First Month)
- Monitor performance: See exactly how much solar power charges your EV
- Calculate your ROI: Most users save $80-120 in the first month alone
- Optimize continuously: Our AI learns your patterns and improves efficiency
Step 3: Add Smart Splitter If Needed (Optional)
- Avoid electrical panel upgrades: If you need Level 2 charging but don't want to spend $3,000-5,000 on panel upgrades
- Simple installation: Just plug the smart splitter into your existing 240V outlet
- Combined savings: Solar optimization + panel upgrade avoidance
Why Solar Installers Don't Tell You About This
You might wonder: if this saves so much money, why didn't my solar installer mention it?
The honest answer is most solar companies focus on selling panels and basic storage. EV charging optimization requires different expertise and partnerships they don't have. They'll install your solar system and maybe sell you a basic EV charger, but they won't optimize how the two systems work together.
That's exactly the gap NeoCharge was built to fill.
Stop Selling Your Solar Power Cheap and Buying It Back Expensive
If you have solar panels for home use and an electric vehicle, you have all the components for energy independence. You just need the intelligence to connect them properly.
Every month you wait to optimize your solar EV charging is another month of unnecessary expenses. While you're selling your excess solar power to the utility for $0.06/kWh and buying it back at $0.35/kWh for EV charging, you're funding the very grid dependence your solar system was supposed to eliminate.
Ready to finally make your solar investment work for your EV?
Download the NeoCharge app today and see exactly how much you could save with intelligent solar EV charging. Our solar integration calculator shows your potential savings based on your specific solar production and EV usage patterns.
Join thousands of homeowners who've already discovered that the missing piece of their solar energy system costs just $275 and installs in minutes.
Ready to optimize your solar EV charging? Download the NeoCharge app on IOS or Android and discover your potential savings in under 2 minutes.
