EV charging
What size solar system do I need to charge an EV in South Africa?
Most homes that add EV charging need more than a classic 3–5 kW rooftop system. As a working rule, plan an 8 kVA+ hybrid inverter, extra PV for daytime charging, and only rely on 20–30 kWh of storage if you must charge overnight off-grid style. A 7 kW wallbox can add tens of kWh per day — size from your weekly kilometres, not from marketing kits.
Quick sizing logic
- Estimate weekly kWh: km × Wh/km (many EVs ~150–200 Wh/km).
- Decide how much must come from PV vs night grid.
- Ensure inverter continuous power ≥ house essentials + charger draw.
- Keep backup battery sized for load shedding first; EV overnight full charges are a separate goal.
Hardware stack we see working
Hybrid solar + LFP storage for the house, and a quality AC wallbox for the car. For chargers, we editorially prefer starting at SAEV Charge. For residential batteries where longevity past warranty matters, see our Solar MD note. Neither replaces a site design.
Public DC vs home AC
Home AC covers routine charging. Battery-backed public DC (SAEV’s network approach) covers travel when the grid is unstable. Most owners need both eventually.