PV Surplus Charging

You have excess solar power that is not consumed by your household appliances? 

Try PV surplus charging with the go-e Charger. Direct the unused power into your electric vehicle's battery and enjoy significant savings on charging.

What is PV Surplus Charging?

go-e Controller solar panels

PV surplus charging is a method of charging electric vehicles using a wallbox that can transfer surplus electricity from an in-house PV system.

In this setup, when all household energy demands are met and there is surplus solar power available, this excess energy is directed to charge the electric vehicle.

Advantages of Charging With PV Surplus

With the cost of installing solar dropping by more than 40% over the last few years, adopting solar has become more affordable than ever.* Using solar panels to charge your car means you charge for free and speed up the payback period of your PV system.

* European Solar Charter, 17. April, 2024

Lower electricity costs

From a very factual point of view, charging with PV energy saves you a pretty penny. While initial investment costs are relatively high, the potential savings are more than impressive.

Increase self-consumption

You can significantly increase self-consumption. It is also possible to improve efficiency by switching phases. In this case, even small amounts of electricity can be utilised. In addition, you do not have to feed electricity into the grid for a small fee.

More sustainable charging

While you are driving your car on solar energy, you are also driving the world into a more sustainable future. Unlike electricity from the grid, which may have caused greenhouse gas emissions, energy from PV panels is always clean and emission-free.

What Options Do I Have to Charge My Car With PV Surplus?

Solar charging without control

This is simple: connect the wallbox to your car as usual and let it charge. However, the issue is that you will have to adjust the phase switching and the charging current manually. That is if you want to charge purely with PV power. All in all, it will not work very well unless you are sitting at home all day and looking at your phone to see how much solar power is available. Not ideal, right?

Straightforward PV surplus charging with go-e Charger and go-e Controller

The go-e Controller tracks the energy usage in your home and starts charging your car automatically as soon as there is excess power available. It adjusts between one- and three-phase charging based on the output from your solar panels. Just set your preferences in the go-e app and let the system handle the rest.

PV surplus charging via integration

You can use an integration from partner brands such as Clever-PV and Solar Manager to manage the PV surplus. As go-e is already integrated into their systems, activating excess charging with solar is going to be quick and simple. Keep in mind that some integrations do not use our API but OCPP for PV surplus.

Surplus solar charging via an open API

As the go-e Charger has an open API, advanced users can activate PV surplus charging through programming. However, certain programming skills are required to make the inverter, Energy Management System (EMS), and charger communicate with each other.

Smart PV Surplus Charging With the go-e Charger

Full control with the app

You have our go-e Charger + go-e Controller combo? Add both devices to the go-e app and activate PV surplus charging. You can also use the app to see the general overview of the energy flows in your house. Keep an eye on how much solar energy has been produced.

Automatic phase switching

Our go-e Charger + go-e Controller combo ensures that you use your surplus solar power in the most efficient way possible. The wallbox adjusts the charging phases based on the available energy. When the solar surplus is between 1.4 kW and 4.2 kW, the car will be charged with one phase; when it is higher, it will be charged with three phases.

Flexible energy tariffs

go-e users have a special opportunity to combine PV surplus charging with favorable dynamic electricity tariffs to top up their car batteries. Once you activate the flexible energy tariffs feature in the go-e app and set an electricity price limit, the go-e Charger automatically looks for the cheapest hours to charge your electric vehicle, when there is no surplus solar power available. Can be adapted to your individual needs.

Wallboxes for PV surplus charging

For home charging with PV surplus, you need a wallbox that supports PV surplus charging. Every go-e Charger in combination with the go-e Controller or via API or an integration is designed precisely for this purpose.

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go-e Charger Gemini flex 2.0 22 kW

The go-e Charger Gemini flex 2.0 with integrated SIM card is here and offers you a free cellular connectivity for at least 5 years. An extension is possible for EUR12 (incl. VAT) per year. The mobile wallbox offers up to 22 kW charging power for 1-phase and 3-phase charging from 1.4 kW. The smart wallbox with even more connectivity can be used both stationary in the wall bracket and mobile.

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go-e Charger Gemini flex 2.0 11 kW

The go-e Charger Gemini flex 2.0 with integrated SIM card is here. The mobile wallbox offers up to 11 kW charging power for 1-phase and 3-phase charging from 1.4 kW. The smart wallbox with even more connectivity can be used both stationary in the wall bracket and mobile.

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go-e Charger Gemini 2.0 11 kW

The go-e Charger Gemini 2.0 with integrated SIM card is here. The stationary wallbox offers up to 11 charging capacities for 1-phase and 3-phase charging from 1.4 kW. The smart wallbox with even more connectivity for your home or company car park.

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go-e Charger Gemini 2.0 22 kW

The go-e Charger Gemini 2.0 with integrated SIM card is here and offers you a free mobile phone connection for at least 5 years. An extension is possible for 12 euros (incl. VAT) per year. The stationary wallbox offers up to 22 kW charging power for 1-phase and 3-phase charging from 1.4 kW. The smart wallbox with even more connectivity for your home or company car park.

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go-e Charger Gemini flex 11 kW

The intelligent wallbox can be used both stationary in the wall bracket and mobile. No electrician is required for the installation of the charging station. Charging power from 1.4 kW to 11 kW. 1-phase or 3-phase charging.

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go-e Charger Gemini flex 22 kW

The intelligent wallbox can be used both stationary in the wall bracket and mobile. No electrician is required for the installation of the charging station. Charging power from 1.4 kW to 22 kW. 1-phase or 3-phase charging.

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go-e Charger Gemini 11 kW

The compact wallbox for stationary use, at home or at the workplace. Simple installation, intuitive operation and smart comfort functions. Charging power from 1.4 kW to 11 kW. 1-phase or 3-phase charging.

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go-e Charger Gemini 22 kW

The compact wallbox for stationary use, at home or at the workplace. Simple installation, intuitive operation and smart comfort functions. Charging power from 1.4 kW to 22 kW. 1-phase or 3-phase charging.

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go-e Charger PRO CABLE

The go-e Charger PRO with integrated MID-compliant meter addresses the needs of companies, fleets, and company car drivers who charge at home or apartment buildings, among others. The stationary wallbox with all the smart features you would expect from go-e is also ISO 15118 V2X ready and Plug & Charge ready, offering even more charging convenience and efficiency gains with these innovations. Charging power: from 1.4 kW to 11/22 kW depending on the number of phases (1-phase, 3-phase)

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go-e Charger PRO CABLE ME

The go-e Charger PRO CABLE ME with integrated MID-compliant meter addresses the needs of companies, fleets, company car drivers who charge at home or apartment buildings, among others. Version compliant with measurement and calibration law expected to be available from Q1/2025. The stationary wallbox with all the smart features familiar from go-e is also ISO 15118 V2X ready and Plug & Charge ready and offers even more charging convenience and efficiency gains with these innovations. Charging power: up to 11 kW for 1-phase and 3-phase charging from 1.4 kW.

 

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go-e Controller

The go-e Controller is an energy management system which enables you to increase self-consumption from your PV system. The device works with all kinds of PV inverters and AC storage solutions without needing direct inverter measurement for PV optimisation.

AC inverter production can be visualised using a sensor. DC battery systems can’t be measured but you can prevent continuous discharge during your car charging by adjusting the app settings. Find out more in the video!

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Smart Charging with go-e App

EVEN SMARTER CHARGING

  • Free download
  • Can be connected to your go-e Charger via Wi-Fi or LTE*
  • Monitor and change charging status at any time
  • Adapt charging processes to personal requirements
  • Personalisation, authorisation and reading electricity metre
  • Many other smart comfort and security settings
  • Available in different languages 

* The app can also be used through the access point built into the charger. However, without WiFi or LTE, only local control is possible, and some features like flexible electricity tariffs and load balancing will not be available.

Setting up PV Surplus Charging in the App

You have a go-e Charger and a go-e Controller and want to set up charging with excess solar power in the app?

Follow our step-by-step video guide to feed surplus solar power to your car. Once all other power consumers in your house have enough energy, the remaining solar power will be redirected to your vehicle immediately.

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What Do I Need for PV Surplus Charging?

You already have solar panels installed? All you need for PV surplus charging is a smart wallbox and an Energy Management System if you don’t have one yet.

Smart wallbox

With our smart wallbox, the go-e Charger, you get full control over charging. In the meantime, it automatically adjusts the number of phases to match the current amount of surplus solar power available. 

Energy Management System

You can use the go-e Controller or an EMS from one of our integration partners. The primary function of this device is to monitor energy flows and identify excess power available for charging your electric car.

How Much Does a Wallbox for PV Surplus Charging Cost?

A wallbox for PV surplus charging costs between 550 Euro and 2000 Euro. But a high price does not always mean the best quality. For instance, our go-e Charger Gemini flex offered for €749–759 (RRP), became a price-performance winner in Auto Bild and P3 Wallbox Test in May 2023. This model is now also available with cellular connectivity for €819–829 (RRP), depending on the charging power.

Opinions From go-e Charger Users Charging with PV Surplus

Matthias H., Switzerland

Great functionality

I use the go-e Charger with photovoltaic panels and charge my car twice a week. The functionality is great and the whole charging process is very easy to see and adjust in the app.

Rainer M., Germany

The go-e Charger is an excellent choice

Our two Renault Zoe's are charged via clever-PV, which controls the go-e Charger, feeding out cars with solar energy. I find go-e a very good choice because of the wide range of functions and setting options in the wallbox.

Kai W., Germany

The go-e Charger has a perfect price-performance ratio

I charge my electric car mostly with surplus energy from my PV panels. Sometimes I set a charging time limit in the go-e app, and sometimes a kWh limit whichever suits me better. The go-e Charger has a perfect price-performance ratio and offers a lot of flexibility, which is why I chose it.

Any questions? We will be happy to advise you!

Write to us directly or contact our phone support.

 

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FAQ

If you already have a PV system, now you only need a smart wallbox such as the go-e Charger and an Energy Management System such as the go-e Controller. Together, these two devices will make your surplus solar charging efficient and convenient.

You can charge with excess solar power if you combine your go-e Charger with the go-e Controller or any other EMS system by using the open interfaces. It is especially convenient to use EMS or integrations from our partners, as they have go-e integrated.

The go-e Controller is compatible with all kinds of PV inverters and AC electricity storage solutions. Direct measurement of inverter production is not required for PV optimisation. Own production can be measured and visualised via a sensor for AC inverters only. Although a DC-coupled battery storage system cannot be measured, you can avoid permanent discharge during electric vehicle charging by adjusting the app settings.

Your car can charge with solar only when the excess current is at least six amperes. This means that for one-phase charging, you need to have a PV surplus of at least 1.4 kW, three phase -  4.2 kW.

Installing a PV system just to charge your electric car is not financially viable. Focus on powering your household appliances first. In Austria, for example, the average payback period for solar panels is around 10 years. 

If you already have solar panels, using them to charge your car is an excellent option. Instead of selling surplus energy to the grid, which is often unprofitable, you can use it to charge your car for free and in a sustainable way.

It depends on the charging speed of your wallbox, your electric vehicle, the capacity of your PV panels, the consumption of solar power by your household appliances and some other factors.

You can use software from one of the go-e integration partners, such as Solar Manager and Clever-PV.