Solar and EV charging in Florida

Federal fuel economy data put the average 2023 electric vehicle at 37.5 kWh per 100 miles, so 10,000 miles a year uses about 3,750 kWh. Here's the extra solar that takes on an unshaded, south-facing roof:

Buying that power from the grid at our estimated rates would cost about $514 a year on FPL, $559 on Duke Energy Florida and $585 on Tampa Electric. If you're getting an EV soon, size the system for it now. See how many solar panels you need.

A solar carport can hold the extra panels and the charger in one spot; see solar carports and pergolas.

Yes, through net metering. Under Florida's rule, the extra solar you send to the grid during the day is credited at the full retail rate, kWh for kWh, and those credits offset the power you use at night, including charging your car. Unused credits carry forward month to month for up to a year.

So you don't need a battery just to charge on solar. A battery matters for keeping the house and car running when the grid is down. See Florida net metering.

• FPL EVolution Home installs and maintains a Level 2 charger for a monthly fee: $36 for a full installation or $27 if you already have a 240-volt circuit, plus time-of-use energy charges. FPL's 2026 bill guide puts those at about 3.5¢ per kWh off peak and 24.1¢ on peak. Customers on FPL's original flat-fee plan pay $45.38 a month for a full installation in 2026, rising to $50.38 in 2027.
• FPL's time-of-use rate makes weekday afternoons and evenings expensive: from April through October, peak hours are noon to 9 p.m. on weekdays. It can't be combined with Budget Billing.
• Duke Energy Florida's Off-Peak Charging Credit pays $7.50 a month for Level 2 home charging done off peak (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays, and anytime on weekends and holidays), for up to two EVs. A separate Charger Prep Credit helps pay for the electrical work.
• Tampa Electric: we couldn't confirm a residential EV charging plan. Its Drive Smart program is for business charging sites.

With solar and net metering, compare any time-of-use plan carefully: your panels produce most during the day, and on-peak hours run into the evening. Ask your utility how your solar credits apply before you switch.

Not anymore. The 2025 federal budget law ended the home charger credit (Section 30C) for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026, and the IRS says the new and used EV credits aren't available for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. We found no cash rebate for home chargers from FPL, Duke or Tampa Electric.

Rooftop solar and batteries still get Florida's sales tax exemption and property tax exclusion. See Florida solar incentives.

With a Tesla Powerwall, yes. Tesla says Powerwall will charge your car during an outage until its stored energy drops to a level you set, then stops so it can keep powering the house. It also slows or pauses car charging when the home needs the power, and Tesla says this doesn't shorten the life of either battery.

Tesla's Charge on Solar feature charges a Tesla using only excess solar, with the home's backup reserve and Storm Watch taking priority. A car battery holds several times what a home battery does, so set the threshold so the house stays covered. See the best home batteries for Florida.

• Tesla Powershare home backup came to new Model 3 and Model Y cars in October 2026, paired with a Powerwall 3 and Wall Connector. Tesla says it can extend backup by over two days for a home using 30 kWh a day.
• GM's V2H Bundle ($8,998) lets supported GM EVs back up a properly equipped home. GM says a 2026 Silverado EV Max Range can power a home for up to five days in a blackout.
• Tesla Cybertruck Powershare works with Powerwall 3 as of September 2026, at up to 11.5 kW.
• Ford F-150 Lightning owners can use Ford's home backup setup, though Ford ended Lightning production in December 2025.

Paired with solar, a car that can back up the house can stretch a hurricane outage from hours of backup to days. See solar battery backup for hurricanes.

Ask your utility before you set one up. The industry group SEPA notes that even though home backup doesn't send power to the grid, many utilities still require an interconnection agreement for two-way chargers.