Electric vehicle giant Tesla has announced the rollout of its new “Charge on Solar” function in several European countries and other select markets. This feature, available via a software update for the Tesla app, allows Tesla vehicles to charge using only excess solar energy produced by a Tesla solar system.
To utilize this feature, customers must have a Tesla vehicle (all models are supported), a Tesla Powerwall as a home storage unit, and a Tesla Wall Connector as a wall box charging station, in addition to a photovoltaic system on their roof. Tesla has specified that its surplus charging function is likely not compatible with home storage systems from other manufacturers.
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The “Charge on Solar” function aims to maximize the value of a home’s solar system by using excess energy to charge the electric vehicle. Users can set limits for the feature using the Tesla app, including a “sun slider” to set the minimum charge level required. For example, the slider can be set to a 40% charge level to ensure the vehicle can complete its usual driving route without issues. The charging process is terminated at 90%, with the range between 40% and 90% charged only with surplus solar energy.
Charge on Solar allows you to charge your Tesla using only excess solar powerhttps://t.co/oFDDKgJFQo
This feature is now available in:
Germany
Spain
Italy
Portugal
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Taiwan
Japan
Thailand
Australia
New Zealand pic.twitter.com/2H1Fv9uYW4— Tesla Energy (@teslaenergy) February 27, 2024
The feature, available at no additional cost provided the necessary hardware is in place, will be introduced with app version 4.30.5. It requires vehicles to have software version 2023.32 or higher, and the Powerwall with Solar requires software version 23.12.10 or higher.
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While Tesla does not offer its own solar roof or panels in Europe, the company’s announcement suggests compatibility with solar systems from other brands, provided the Tesla Powerwall is available. The rollout is planned for Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK in Europe, and in Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand outside Europe.
