Charging Electric Car using Solar Panels

cheeky-peach

Good evening,

Our solar panel lease contract states: 
"You must not store any electricity that is produced by the PV system." 

I am wondering if permits me to charge up an electric vehicle or if this counts as storage as the EV has a battery? This has been a question I've received as part of a house sale. I must admit, I haven't thought about it as a I charge my laptop, iPad etc which also uses a battery and I wouldn't class this but just wondered if anyone had any views? 

Thanks

Reed_Richards

I would have thought that storing electricity means that you have the means of getting it back as electricity for general use.  That might be possible with an electric car battery but only if you have the right equipment.  There are trials going on at present https://www.edfenergy.com/electric-cars/microgeneration . 

Verdigris

I can't see how they will know. They have a separate generation meter that measures what the panels produce and determines the panel owner's FIT payments. What goes through your meter, in either direction, is none of their business.

Flash32

Both previous posts are correct.  The clause in your contract is referring to the practice of installing static batteries purely for the purpose of off-setting tariff costs.  Charging your car, laptop, mobile phone, whatever, is simply another load on the system in the same way as your washing machine, tv, lights, etc.  Go ahead and don't worry!

EricMears

Flash32 said:

Both previous posts are correct.  The clause in your contract is referring to the practice of installing static batteries purely for the purpose of off-setting tariff costs.  Charging your car, laptop, mobile phone, whatever, is simply another load on the system in the same way as your washing machine, tv, lights, etc.  Go ahead and don't worry!

Flash32's interpretation of the intent may well be correct but unless the full contract wording makes that clear,  you'd have to assume that it means any storage is forbidden.  Since that is so manifestly unfair (imagine having to pop next door if you need to charge your mobile phone !) you'd very likely be able to have that clause disregarded.

Verdigris

Yes, I reckon it falls foul of the Unfair Contract Terms Act. IANAL

ann_droid

Hi
Well to push the envelope...........
Surely the charging of a car battery, lead-acid et al is the conversion of electricity via a chemical process to electrical-energy.

rp1974

Stupid question time,have you asked your panel lease owner if you can do this or not?.
Seems simple to me,why complicate it unnecessarily?.
Do request written or email conformation of the answer,whatever that is though.

cheeky-peach

Thanks all - I finally managed to get hold of the lease holders managing company which wasn't as easy as it sounds hence asking here. The answer is yes we can providing that it's not storage which would then be passed back to the grid.

rp1974

Well done,thought that would be the case,glad you got it sorted.
Nice of you to confirm this,many dont bother and are never heard from again,which is a shame as it provides information for others.

Essex_Jim

cheeky-peach said:

Good evening,

Our solar panel lease contract states: 
"You must not store any electricity that is produced by the PV system." 

I am wondering if permits me to charge up an electric vehicle or if this counts as storage as the EV has a battery? This has been a question I've received as part of a house sale. I must admit, I haven't thought about it as a I charge my laptop, iPad etc which also uses a battery and I wouldn't class this but just wondered if anyone had any views? 

Thanks

Hi,

Can I ask, maybe a stupid question. Is this a lease property or are the solar panels leased?