If you have spent any time around solar and EV tech, you have heard the pitch. An energy monitor watches your solar output and flips on your EV charger whenever you have extra production. On paper, that sounds like free miles. In practice, it only helps certain households. If you have one to one netmetering with FPL or LCEC, or your car is not home in the middle of the day, that automation is a shiny button that often adds no savings.
What These “Excess Solar” Modes Actually Do
The system measures net power at your main service. If the house is exporting to the grid, it tells the EV charger to ramp up. If the house is importing, it ramps down or stops. It is a simple self-consumption routine that follows the sun.
When It Helps
- You are on time-of-use billing. If exports are credited at a lower rate than imports, or if peak rates are high in the late afternoon, charging during the solar window can reduce your cost. We don’t have that with FPL and LCEC.
- Your EV is home mid-day. Remote workers, retirees, or households with a second vehicle sitting in the driveway can take advantage of the noon solar peak, but it’s all for show. It doesn’t save any money.
- You frequently curtail or clip exports. If your utility caps export power or pays a low rate for it, soaking up that extra with the car can be worthwhile. This is not an issue with FPL and LCEC.
- You pair it with a home battery. A battery can buffer clouds and keep the charger running at a steady rate, but so can the grid, so it doesn’t really matter for us.
When It Does Not Help
- 1 to 1 net metering. If your exported kilowatt-hours are credited at the same retail rate that you pay to buy them back later (like FPL and LCEC customers), sending energy to the grid when the car is gone provides the same value as charging the car directly. The grid becomes your virtual battery. No harm, no foul, no savings from the automation.
- Your car is gone during daylight. Commuters who leave at 7 a.m. and return after sunset will not capture mid-day solar with a driveway charger. The feature sits idle most days.
- Seasonal and weather swings. Florida’s summer afternoons can produce well, but late-day storms and winter sun angles make the charger hunt for power. Without a battery you end up starting and stopping more than you would like.
What This Means For FPL and LCEC Customers
FPL and LCEC customers with solar and netmetering have 1 to 1 crediting. Excess solar sent to the grid banks as credits you can use at night. There is no penalty for exporting mid-day and charging your EV overnight. The billing outcome is the same. In other words, the automation does not magically reduce your bill.
Smarter Charging Setups In Southwest Florida
- Schedule overnight charging. Most EVs let you set a start and stop time. If you have one to one credits, use them at night when you are home and the car can fill at a steady rate. FPL offers a flat rate unlimited charging plan for nighttime charging.
- Add a battery if you have TOU or net billing. If FPL or LCEC ever moves to net billing or strong peak pricing, a modest battery can turn your solar into on-demand fuel for the EV and the house.
- Design the PV for total annual production, not noon theatrics. Chasing mid-day EV charging with exotic layouts is rarely worth it. A well-sized array that covers your annual load plus miles is the reliable play.
- Use the car’s built-in limits. Set a daily target state of charge that fits your driving pattern. Then top up overnight. Keep it boring, keep it effective.
A Quick Decision Guide
- Do you have one to one netmetering and park away from home during the day? Schedule overnight charging. Skip the solar-only gimmicks.
- Do you have net billing or strong time-of-use pricing? Consider solar-aware charging and possibly a home battery.
- Is your EV parked at home mid-day? Solar-only charging can shave some costs, especially on sunny days.
Bottom Line
Solar-only EV charging is not bad tech. It is just the wrong tool for many households in our market. With 1 to 1 net metering, exporting solar and charging at night lands you in the same place financially with less hassle. If your rates change, or if you are home mid-day, we can dial in an automation that actually moves the needle. The goal is not a clever app screen. The goal is a lower bill and a system that works every single day.
