How many solar panels to charge an EV, by city
Short answer: Charging a typical EV for a year (2,363 kWh, DOE) takes about 4 to 6 solar panels of 400 W across our 50 cities, from sunniest Tucson (1,788 kWh per kW) to cloudiest Seattle (1,088 kWh per kW), based on NREL PVWatts V8.
Last updated:
Sources (accessed 2026-10-25): U.S. DOE Vehicle Technologies Office, Fact of the Week #1307 (Sept 11, 2023), citing EIA 2020 RECS; NREL/NLR PVWatts V8 API (NSRDB PSM V3 TMY weather; 1 kW DC, standard module, fixed open rack, 20° tilt, 180° azimuth, 14% losses); EnergySage – How many solar panels do I need? (2026 guide); EnergySage – Solar panel cost in 2026 ($2.60/W national average); IRS FS-2025-05.
| City | kWh per kW per year (PVWatts) | kW needed | 400 W panels | Cost at $2.60/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 1,788 | 1.32 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,755 | 1.35 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,754 | 1.35 | 4 | $4,160 |
| San Diego, CA | 1,683 | 1.40 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1,679 | 1.41 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Long Beach, CA | 1,678 | 1.41 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Anaheim, CA | 1,673 | 1.41 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Irvine, CA | 1,664 | 1.42 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,654 | 1.43 | 4 | $4,160 |
| San Jose, CA | 1,624 | 1.45 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,614 | 1.46 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Denver, CO | 1,602 | 1.48 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1,585 | 1.49 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Oakland, CA | 1,582 | 1.49 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Tampa, FL | 1,568 | 1.51 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Miami, FL | 1,558 | 1.52 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1,542 | 1.53 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Fort Worth, TX | 1,535 | 1.54 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Orlando, FL | 1,507 | 1.57 | 4 | $4,160 |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,504 | 1.57 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Dallas, TX | 1,500 | 1.58 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 1,485 | 1.59 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Austin, TX | 1,483 | 1.59 | 4 | $4,160 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,455 | 1.62 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,445 | 1.64 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Memphis, TN | 1,439 | 1.64 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 1,435 | 1.65 | 5 | $5,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1,430 | 1.65 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Houston, TX | 1,421 | 1.66 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Atlanta, GA | 1,416 | 1.67 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,392 | 1.70 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Washington, DC | 1,392 | 1.70 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Charlotte, NC | 1,391 | 1.70 | 5 | $5,200 |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,388 | 1.70 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Arlington, VA | 1,380 | 1.71 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Raleigh, NC | 1,370 | 1.73 | 5 | $5,200 |
| New York City, NY | 1,353 | 1.75 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,348 | 1.75 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,344 | 1.76 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Nashville, TN | 1,339 | 1.77 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Chicago, IL | 1,333 | 1.77 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,333 | 1.77 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,332 | 1.77 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Newark, NJ | 1,306 | 1.81 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,296 | 1.82 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Detroit, MI | 1,295 | 1.82 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Boston, MA | 1,275 | 1.85 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,191 | 1.98 | 5 | $5,200 |
| Portland, OR | 1,121 | 2.11 | 6 | $6,240 |
| Seattle, WA | 1,088 | 2.17 | 6 | $6,240 |
Energy-equivalent estimate for a south-facing 20° fixed array with 14% losses. Your roof, shading and panel wattage will change the count. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (section 25D, 30% for solar) is not allowed for any expenditures made after December 31, 2025; an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed.
How many solar panels do I need to charge an EV?
Charging a typical EV for a year (2,363 kWh, DOE) takes about 4 to 6 solar panels of 400 W across our 50 cities, from sunniest Tucson (1,788 kWh per kW) to cloudiest Seattle (1,088 kWh per kW), based on NREL PVWatts V8.
How is it calculated?
Panels = 2,363 kWh ÷ PVWatts kWh per kW ÷ 0.4 kW per panel, rounded up.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (section 25D, 30% for solar) is not allowed for any expenditures made after December 31, 2025; an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed.