I have a 9 KW (40 panel) Grid tied PV Home Solar Installation that produces more power than I need for my home. We planned this on purpose to have excess power to charge a Tesla Model S. Of course I can set up a 240V AC charging station, but then I am converting DC from the panels to AC, and then, on board the Tesla, back again to DC, suffering significant power loss through two inverter conversions. It would seem pretty straightforward for the DC current from the panels to be gated through a solid state current controller to charge the Prius batteries directly without inverters. Does anyone know if Tesla or a third party will be manufacturing such a system. Similar systems may be already available for people with off-grid solar home installations that power lead acid battery storage banks.
Especially in Europe or Japan with very high gasoline prices, I would think this approach really improves the economics of EV ownership. I would think solar city and Tesla would get together to write a lease agreement for tesla + Solar PV installation as a package!
Especially in Europe or Japan with very high gasoline prices, I would think this approach really improves the economics of EV ownership. I would think solar city and Tesla would get together to write a lease agreement for tesla + Solar PV installation as a package!