EV fleets in municipalities and corporations are increasing dramatically, with 87% of companies planning to add EVs within the next five years. However, EV fleets can come with a 24/7 charging demand, one that many organizations struggle to meet while also keeping energy costs down. Cox Automotive reports that 46% of EV challenges are from a lack of charging station availability, leading many organizations to build their own. Adding on-site solar and energy storage to power EV fleet chargers combats both the 24/7 availability and price challenges head-on and helps companies avoid trading tailpipe emissions for grid emissions.
Solar & Storage as a Power Duo
The future of transportation lies within EV fleets, as they save transit depots, municipal, and commercial operations money on gas and cost of ownership. However, managing charging for multiple vehicles with different routes and schedules can be a complicated process. While solar can handle daytime charging needs, organizations need energy storage to fill the gap in the evening during operational downtime. With a Level 2 charger, electric buses can take 5.5-13 hours to fully charge, making charging crowded and expensive, especially during peak charging times. PG&E estimates that in 2025, EV charging costs on average $0.38079 per kWh during peak compared to $0.16212 off-peak. With solar and storage, you can charge your fleet on your own schedule without worrying about raising your costs during peak usage times.
How to Get it Right
Companies looking to deploy solar-powered EVs affordably and at scale must choose the right finance model and work with an independent power producer (IPP). A 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) charges a fixed rate for the energy taken from the system, while the IPP handles everything from design and installation to permitting and maintenance of the solar and storage system. Using this model, customers can benefit from predictable energy costs, decreased emissions, and long-term savings, without the operational burden, utility complexity or upfront cost.
One notable example is the Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) project, a solar-powered EV charging hub for electric buses. ATN installed a 514 kW canopy that now offsets 25% of the site’s consumption and is projected to save $4.8 million over its 20-year PPA. The solar canopy supplies power during the daytime and integrates it into the microgrid for nighttime charging while also shielding the vehicles from the harsh rays.
It’s also important to design systems with foresight so that organizations have the ability to expand without retrofitting. Far too often, solar and storage systems are built to meet current energy needs without much consideration for future growth plans. IPPs can help on this front as well to plan for long-term success. EV fleets are deployed to reduce fossil fuel use, not increase it. Charging with solar energy is both cost-efficient and environmentally friendly, making EV charging completely carbon-free, rather than just partially. Solar-powered charging for EV fleets supports the demand for better charging solutions that satisfy budgets and are clean energy conscious.
