EV charger with integrated solar works 4x faster

Australian motorists will soon be able to charge their electric vehicles (EVs) up to four times faster with the release of what is claimed to be the world’s first two-in-one solar inverter and EV charger. The innovative design of the EV charging solar inverter enables faster charging through its solar boost mode, which allows simultaneous charging from grid and solar power.

SolarEdge Technologies Australia General Manager Gavin Merchant said the two-in-one EV charger and solar inverter had the potential to advance the growing EV market, offering superior convenience, grid independence and cost benefits.

“Embedding an EV charger in our solar inverter gives owners flexibility in how they charge their EVs and how fast they do it. Having the solar boost mode option offers huge peace of mind and convenience because you can effectively quarter typical charging times.”

Merchant said that charging using the solar-only option also has the added benefit of giving users more energy independence, enabling them to reduce power bills and carbon footprints. The two-in-one charger and inverter is compatible with multiple EVs and integrates with the SolarEdge monitoring platform, allowing users to control and track charging status and set charging schedules to take advantage of off-peak rates.

Merchant said SolarEdge’s market-leading technology could help to accelerate EV ownership in Australia.

“With industry analysts expecting more new EVs to be sold globally than petrol and diesel cars in the next five to 10 years, we are heading towards a tipping point. As a result, our largest energy use in the home is going to be for EV charging,” he said.

“Being able to use our EV charging solar inverter to power your car from solar gives consumers a more economic and greener option.”

The EV charging solar inverter is expected to be available in Australia by the end of 2019. The solution is also available as an EV-ready option for future EV purchases for PV system owners.

SolarEdge will showcase its integrated EV charging solar inverter at the 2019 All-Energy Australia Exhibition & Conference in Melbourne on 23–24 October.