title: "Switching to an EV and Home Charging with Solar in Georgia" summary: "A suburban Atlanta family pairs their new EV with solar panels and an overnight charging routine to cut transportation costs 70%." storyType: electrification state: GA savingsMonthly: 160 systemSize: "11.2 kW" date: "2026-03-15" tags:
- ev
- solar
- georgia
- transportation
- electrification
The Two Biggest Bills
Living in Marietta, GA (suburban Atlanta), our two biggest recurrring expenses after the mortgage were:
- Electricity: $180/month (Georgia Power, ~1,500 kWh/month for our 2,200 sq ft home)
- Gas for two cars: $320/month (two commuters, ~1,200 miles/month combined at $3.30/gal)
Total energy spend: $500/month. We knew there had to be a better way.
The Plan
When our second car (a 2016 Honda Accord) needed major repairs, we decided to replace it with an EV and install solar panels simultaneously. The solar would power both the house and the car.
What We Bought
The EV
| Detail | Value | |---|---| | Vehicle | 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV 2LT | | MSRP | $33,900 | | Federal $7,500 tax credit | Applied at point of sale | | Effective price | $26,400 | | Range (EPA) | 319 miles | | Efficiency | 3.4 miles/kWh | | Home charger | ChargePoint Home Flex (48A, Level 2) |
The Solar System
| Detail | Value | |---|---| | Panels | 28 × Silfab SIL-400-NX (400W each) | | Capacity | 11.2 kW DC | | Inverter | Enphase IQ8A microinverters | | Annual production (est.) | ~15,200 kWh | | Installer | Creative Solar USA (local, Georgia) |
Installation Costs
| Item | Amount | |------|-----:| | Solar system (11.2 kW) | $28,500 | | Federal 30% solar ITC | -$8,550 | | ChargePoint Level 2 charger | $700 | | Electrician (charger install + 60A circuit) | $450 | | 30C EV charger credit (30%) | -$345 | | Total net cost (solar + charger) | $20,755 |
How We Charge
Overnight charging (11 PM – 6 AM). Georgia Power's Nights & Weekends rate: ~$0.01/kWh during super off-peak hours (yes, 1 cent per kWh for EV charging on the Plug-In EV rate).
We applied for Georgia Power's Plug-In EV rate — a special TOU rate available to EV owners that offers extremely low overnight rates in exchange for higher peak prices. Since solar covers our peak usage, we get the best of both worlds.
Daily Charging Example
| Metric | Value | |---|---| | Average daily driving | 40 miles | | Energy needed | ~12 kWh | | Charging @ $0.01/kWh | $0.12/day | | Monthly EV fuel cost | ~$3.50 |
Compare that to the Honda: 40 miles/day ÷ 30 mpg × $3.30/gal = $4.40/day ($132/month).
First Year Results
Electricity and Transportation Costs Combined
| Category | Before (Gas car + Grid) | After (EV + Solar) | |---|:-:|:-:| | Home electricity | $180/mo | $45/mo (solar covers ~75%) | | Car fuel/charging | $160/mo (gas for replaced car) | $4/mo (overnight rate) | | Monthly total | $340/mo | $49/mo |
Our other car is still gas — $160/month for the remaining vehicle. But replacing the second car alone saved $291/month in combined home electricity and transportation costs.
If we count the savings from the solar covering the house too, total monthly savings is approximately $160/month vs. our pre-solar, pre-EV baseline for the equivalent household energy use.
Solar Production Breakdown
| Use | kWh/Year | |---|:-:| | Home consumption | 12,500 | | EV charging (at-home, daytime) | 1,200 | | Grid export (net metered) | 1,500 | | Total production | ~15,200 |
Most EV charging happens overnight on the cheap Georgia Power EV rate — so the solar primarily offsets home consumption. Some weekend charging happens during the day directly from solar.
The EV Experience
Charging at Home
We charge overnight 5–6 nights per week. The ChargePoint adds about 30 miles of range per hour — so 2 hours of charging covers a typical day. We never think about range or charging stations for daily driving.
Public Charging
For road trips (Atlanta to Savannah, Atlanta to Nashville), we use DC fast charging (Electrify America, Tesla Superchargers via NACS adapter). Cost: about $0.40/kWh — still cheaper per mile than gas.
Maintenance
After 12 months:
- Oil changes: $0 (no engine)
- Brake wear: minimal (regenerative braking does 90% of deceleration)
- Tire rotation: $60 (done once)
- Total maintenance: $60 (our gas car averages $600/year)
Combined Payback
The solar system ($20,755 net) saves ~$1,920/year in electricity + increases self-consumption. That's a 10.8-year payback on the solar alone.
The EV saves ~$1,500/year in fuel costs vs. gas + ~$500/year in maintenance. The EV was also $4,000 cheaper after the $7,500 credit than the equivalent gas SUV we were considering.
Advice
- Check if your utility has an EV rate plan. Georgia Power's Plug-In EV rate makes overnight charging almost free. Not all utilities offer this, but it's worth investigating.
- Solar + EV is a multiplier. Each technology is good alone. Together, they're transformative — your roof becomes your gas station.
- You don't need to replace both cars at once. Replace the next car that needs it. The savings from one EV are substantial enough.
- Level 2 home charging is all you need for daily driving. Don't overthink it. A $700 charger and standard 240V circuit handles everything.
- Size solar for house + EV. When quoting solar, tell the installer your expected EV charging needs. An extra 2–3 kW of panels costs a fraction of the energy they'll produce over their lifetime.