How does EVOS Solar work?

As electric vehicle uptake increases, so too do the ways in which we can harness renewable energy to charge our vehicles.

The ability to charge using solar generated electricity is a huge drawcard of living in Australia and can help to reduce the cost of running your EV. And, with solar export tariffs currently at very low rates, the decision to invest in solar and manage it with smart technology is really a no-brainer. 

So how does EVOS Solar work? 

Charging your EV at home or the workplace with solar energy is easily done through the EVOS Energy Platform or MyEVOS App. When used in conjunction with an EVOS charger, the MyEVOS App dynamically adjusts your charging rate to align perfectly with your solar energy production. And, if you have an energy storage device your energy usage is optimised as well. 

With two modes, Solar Match and Solar Export - users can optimise charging based on solar availability. Solar Match aligns the charger’s output with real-time solar production, while Solar Export uses excess solar energy sent back to the grid to power the EV. Both modes maximize solar use, and users can switch effortlessly between solar and mains power through the MyEVOS App. 

How does Solar Match work? 

With Solar Match mode, an EVOS approved current meter is installed on the solar inverter output electrical circuit to measure the solar production. The current meter doesn’t need to be integrated with the solar inverter though, which means it will work with any solar system. 

Once installed, the current meter communicates with the EVOS AC chargers, relaying real-time data so that the charger can smartly adjust its charging rate to match the solar power generation. This setup ensures that charging power aligns precisely with solar generation, maximising the use of solar energy for EV charging. Please note that this mode does not take inconsideration the house or building power consumption. 

EVOS Solar Match (current meter is installed on the solar inverter output electrical circuit).

Requirements for Solar Match: 

An EVOS AC charger, the MyEVOS App, a Teltonika modem, and a compatible current meter are necessary for this mode. 

How does Solar Export work? 

With the Solar Export mode, the current meter is placed on the mains electrical circuit, (the power circuit going back to the grid) to measure the amount of solar energy exported back to the grid. The EVOS platform uses this data to match the EV charging power supplied to the vehicle, allowing the charger to only utilise surplus solar energy that would otherwise be sent back to the grid.  

We recommend this mode for owners of larger solar systems as some cars will require a minimum power level to charge. For example, Tesla vehicles will not charge if the charger is delivering under 6amps. If you are only exporting 1kW back to the grid this will not be enough to charge your Tesla. Users can switch back to grid charging is required via the app. 

EVOS Solar Export (current meter is installed on the power circuit going back to the grid).

Requirements for Solar Export: 

The same hardware is required as for Solar Match, so an EVOS AC charger, the MyEVOS App, a Teltonika modem, and a compatible current meter are necessary for this mode. 

What if I'm not able to install a current meter? 

 For customers who are unable to install a current meter but still wish to optimise their solar energy to charge their EV, they can do this by using scheduling and reducing the power of the EV charger. For example, if your peak solar production is between 10 am and 3 pm you are able to schedule your car to only charge during this period and if required you are able to power down your EV charger to match your average solar production. 

What if I’d like to have the flexibility to use both Solar Match and Solar Export? 

Customers can have both Solar Match and Solar Export modes enabled by installing two current meters- one on the solar inverter output and another on the main circuit. This setup allows users to switch seamlessly between charging modes based on their energy preferences. 

Can I switch easily between using solar-only and mains power? 

The MyEVOS App offers a simple interface to toggle between solar-only and regular mains power modes. Users can activate or deactivate solar charging with ease, with notifications provided to indicate when the system is operating in solar charging mode. 

If you have any questions about integrating solar charging with our energy management solutions, reach out to our friendly sales team at sayhi@evos.com.au