Position of EV charger on house - aim for solar gain?

shoehorn

Have solar panels recently installed. Thinking of getting an EV.

We have a detached house with room to drive around three sides: E, N, W facing. If the charger could go on any side (I haven't asked an electrician yet), W facing would be handiest by far, as that's the door we usually use. However, EV would be used for school runs in the morning, and on a sunny day, car would be in full shade in morning when started up first (frosted up on frosty mornings vs clear on the East facing side).

I'm wondering if this is much of a factor? Is it harder on the battery to be started from a cold start on a frosty morning? What about at charging time - does it make any difference to charging time/cost whether the sun is shining?

Mickeroo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258089/position-of-ev-charger-on-house-aim-for-solar-gain

No difference at all, put it where it's most convenient for you.

slave1

Personally I'd go for the Sun position but remember you can park it wherever you want, it's only those mornings in Winter when the car was on charge that it will be parked at the charge point (through necessity)

Garlinge

Would closeness to meter /fusebox not be a factor?

kanuseeme

Position the charger so that the car can be in the shade in summer and in what ever sun you can get in winter, less energy needed to pre cool/heat it.

Other than that, it makes no difference, unless the walking distance from door to car is a consideration.

Big Bag of Chips

Further away it is from fuse box more expensive it will be to install. As more cable will be needed. (Cable is very expensive now) Ours is installed on the wall behind our fuse box. Northfacing.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058258089/position-of-ev-charger-on-house-aim-for-solar-gain

Makes exactly zero difference if the car is in the shade because most EVs have a great trick called preheating

I've both of our EVs set to preheat around 7.30 in winter to a nice warm temp, so the car is toasty and the windows clear every morning. Our driveway is north facing and in the shadow of the house, so definitely worst case

If you're worried about the preheating cutting into your range you can just ensure the car is plugged in the night before, so it'll take the power for heating from the grid and not the car battery

So just put the charger where it's convenient for you.

I'd recommend looking at a charger with solar integration, since you already have panels. That way you can charge the car using excess solar instead of dumping it to the grid

ted1

They need to bring back the 52kwh ID4. I see the US are getting a 64kwk ID4 standard

Perfect size for Ireland and far more accessible to many