Solar and Electric Cars
By Jay Thomas | NATiVE Solar Consultant
For the past 15 years it’s been my dream to completely erase my carbon footprint and live entirely on solar energy. My career at Native Solar as a solar consultant, my recent purchase of a Tesla Model 3, and the installation of a charger from Smart Charge America, has allowed me to further pursue my dreams of erasing my carbon footprint and living on solar energy.
Regarding your carbon footprint, there are two main ways you can shrink it. One way is photovoltaic systems, or more commonly known as solar panels. They provide a key benefit of producing power for electricity consumption with little to no carbon footprint. When your home is powered by solar panels, you may have a reduced or entirely negated electric bill, and a vastly reduced carbon footprint.
However, that’s only half of the equation.
The other way to reduce your carbon footprint is your transportation. If you are an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) driver, you’re still adding carbon and other chemicals to the atmosphere when you burn gas as you drive.
This is where an EV can bridge the gap. When you have rooftop solar, and you are using some of that electricity to charge an electric car, you are no longer contributing greenhouse gases to the environment. Further, solar energy doesn’t have to just be about saving the planet. The combination of solar with EVs can even save you a significant amount of money.
Because solar comes with a fixed, up-front cost, you only have to pay for it once. Whereas if you continue to pay your electric bill as normal, you are basically renting your electricity because your payment never goes away. It will even go up over time due to inflation as well as rising energy rates.
Investing in solar is a smart decision, even if you decide to take out a loan to pay for your solar. It’s still cheaper in the long run than paying your electric bill for the rest of your life. After your solar is paid for, you will, in effect, be driving for free without the need to visit a gas station, you also won’t have an electric bill to pay.
For the vast majority of middle class America, the surest path to wealth creation is home ownership. Not only can you own your home, but you can now own your power instead of renting it.
With the help of Smart Charge America I made the plunge to a carbon-free, low cost life style, and I couldn’t be happier! With current rebates and incentives for solar and EVs nearing their end, this is one of the best times we’ve ever seen to get started.
Here’s to making your own power!
***If you would like to speak to Jay directly about his experience, or to get a FREE quote from him for your own NATiVE Solar PV system,
contact him here: jay@nativesolar.com
Jay,
Good for you in making your dream come true. And a dream that involves helping others and the planet. Way to go!
Thank you Tommy! It’s a dream we can all be a part of.
Hey Jay,
So pleasing to hear your living your dream! It’s a dream more of us can be inspired to live!
The hope for the future is that our generation will make incremental strides that will allow our progeny, or simply our younger pals, to enjoy a healthy biosphere in which to raise their young ones.
Paul, I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for sharing and for playing your own part in this journey. I hope all is well in your world!
Sorry, I won’t be able to pull my trailer with EV. When you get one that will…we’ll talk.
Tesla Model X does roughly have a 6,000lb towing capacity, but of course mile range will be affected by towing heavy loads. There are also some very cool electric trucks coming out in the next couple of years. We’re excited for the advancement of EVs and looking forward to the day of affordable electric trucks with long ranges and towing capacities.
Billy, you are absolutely right that the Model 3 cannot tow a trailer. However, I would recommend either the Tesla Model X as stated above, or a really exciting new player in the market is Rivian as well as Workhorse, they both have electric trucks slated to hit the market in the next few years.
Carbon is only part of the equation. We must resolve what happens to the toxic metals in batteries. I think Elon Musk has the right idea in developing mega battery recycling systems although they have a ways to go. I applaud Jay and anyone else who finds more practical reasons to adopt renewable energy sources than lofty goals as saving the planet. Watch how many heads spin when you explain how it saves money. I’m an advocate of EV’s because a billion point sources of ICE vehicles is too big a problem. When the point sources dwindle to power plants with oversight from world governments it becomes orders of magnitude easier to manage and a more likely scenario to actually save ourselves from ourselves. The planet will go on nicely no matter what we do….however it might be without humans.
I bought my system from Native 3 years ago, since then I’ve had only 1 positive electric bill, Every month when I get my electric bill ,it’s a credit instead of a bill; My house is a Total Electric house, so therefore in the summertime all my cooling is free, and in the wintertime all my heating is free. My system produces all the electricity I use and more. Native was very helpful, honest and truthful to me, Native is the best.
That’s amazing Rollie! Thanks for sharing!