[Handle]

I'm in Los Angeles, and we've have solar panels on our roof for ten years. Through finding way to cut energy consumption, our solar panels now produce way more electricity than we use. But users don't get paid for the excess electricity we generate. So how great would it be to have a plug-in vehicle, to use some of that excess electricity?

Unsure if we really need vehicle as large as a Pacifica, but I'm really intrigued by the new hybrid. So I'm keeping my eye on the forum to see when people actually start receiving them.

 

[JPhi]

Would you have your car plugged in during the day so you actually use the "excess" power? Also there are many electric options these days that are smaller and more efficient than a Pacifica, even tho it is a great car.

 

[Tsnor]

Would you have your car plugged in during the day so you actually use the "excess" power? Also there are many electric options these days that are smaller and more efficient than a Pacifica, even tho it is a great car.

"..many electric options these days that are smaller and more efficient.. " smaller yes, more efficient for carrying 6 people over 6ft... not so much.

"...your car plugged in during the day so you actually use the "excess" power.." Doesn't work that way. If you plug in your car at night then during the day the solar panels put power into the grid at peak use time letting electric companies turn off their least efficient power plants. When you pull power at night then you help even more -- the power companies have turned off even more inefficient power plants with the lower demand so the electricity you get is likely more environmentally friendly. Charging during a peak period hot day is the worse case - you are forcing the oldest, most inefficient power equipment into service to charge your car.

 

[JPhi]

OP said he may not need a car that big, and I took his other comment to mean that his electric company may not offer net metering at all.