At what point is it worth upgrading the electrical installation and purchasing an electric car for everyday use?
This question will arise for many owners - or future owners - of a detached house in the near future. It is not only interesting from an economic point of view, but also from an ecological one.
The following assumptions are made for the scientific work: The electric car is needed for the daily commute from home to work and the extension of the house installation by a photovoltaic system (PVA) complies with the standard of the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE).
We assume the following scenario for the housework: The detached house is located in northern Germany, the roof is south-facing with the optimum tilt angle of 30° and an average electricity consumption for two adults and two children. The commuting person works during the week, during the day in a company that is 60 kilometres (one way) from home.
This leads to the hypothesis that the monthly petrol costs can be reduced by purchasing an electric car and a PVA. This leads to the following key question:
Is it financially worthwhile to expand the electrical home installation with a photovoltaic system for charging an electric car?
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Terminology
3 Extension of the domestic installation
3.1 Existing electrical system
3.2 Installation of a PVA
3.3 Inverter
3.4 Residual current circuit-breaker and miniature circuit-breaker
3.5 Storage of solar power
3.6 Car charging station
4 Concepts of energy suppliers and energy consultants
4.1 Provider 1
4.2 Provider 2
4.3 Provider 3
4.4 Provider 4
5 Comparison of the concepts
5.1 Cost comparison
5.1.1 Installation costs
5.1.2 Variable costs
5.2 Amortisation of the photovoltaic system
5.2.1 Utilisation and feed-in of the electricity generated
5.2.1 Petrol costs to be saved
6 Summary and recommendations for action
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper investigates the economic and ecological viability of extending a residential electrical installation with a photovoltaic system (PVA) and an electric vehicle charging station. The primary research question is whether it is financially worthwhile for homeowners to invest in solar energy generation to facilitate the daily charging of an electric car, considering factors such as energy self-sufficiency and potential fuel cost savings.
- Economic assessment of PVA installation and battery storage options.
- Technical requirements for domestic charging infrastructure according to VDE standards.
- Comparative analysis of various energy provider concepts and cost structures.
- Evaluation of amortisation periods based on self-generated electricity and saved petrol costs.
- Analysis of the influence of self-sufficiency levels on daily commuting expenses.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 Inverter
"Inverters are used to adapt the PV generator or battery DC voltage to the nominal AC voltage of the loads" (Wagner 2006, p. 102). An inverter is intended to transform the DC voltage generated by the PV system into AC voltage for the electrical grid. The electrical grid frequency is designed for 50 Hz and oscillates in a sinusoidal curve. The main task is the synchronised feed-in of the self-generated solar power. The sine wave inverter best simulates the grid voltage present in the power grid and is better suited to PVA than, for example, the square wave/trapezoidal inverter. This simulates a sinusoidal curve, but does not have the same output of a sine wave inverter because of this (see Wagner 2006, p. 102 ff.).
The dimensioning of the photovoltaic system and the inverter is important, as a maximum yield can only be achieved if the PV generator and inverter are optimally harmonised . An inverter with an input power of two kW cannot process the five kWp photovoltaic system without losses. The generated current and voltage of the PV system must also be taken into account (cf. Mertens 2015, p. 207 ff).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Defines the scope of the paper, focusing on the economic feasibility of combining residential solar power with electric vehicle charging.
2 Terminology: Establishes fundamental technical definitions, including VDE standards, photovoltaic systems, and electric vehicle powertrain concepts.
3 Extension of the domestic installation: Details the technical infrastructure needed, covering existing grid systems, PVA integration, inverters, circuit breakers, battery storage, and charging stations.
4 Concepts of energy suppliers and energy consultants: Analyzes four different provider concepts, evaluating their specific offerings for solar energy systems and hardware components.
5 Comparison of the concepts: Provides a detailed evaluation of fixed installation costs, variable operational costs, and calculates the amortisation periods based on energy and fuel savings.
6 Summary and recommendations for action: Offers a concluding assessment of the financial viability, confirming the project's usefulness and providing strategic advice for homeowners.
Keywords
Photovoltaic system, PVA, Electrical installation, Electric vehicle, Solar power storage, Amortisation, Self-sufficiency, VDE standards, Renewable energy, Inverter, Charging infrastructure, Energy costs, Economic efficiency, Sustainable mobility, Grid feed-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core objective of this study?
The study aims to determine if extending a domestic electrical installation with a photovoltaic system and a charging station for an electric car is financially worthwhile.
Which key thematic areas are addressed?
The work covers technical requirements for charging, cost comparisons of different provider concepts, and the calculation of amortisation based on self-sufficiency and fuel savings.
What is the central research question?
Is it financially worthwhile to expand the electrical home installation with a photovoltaic system for charging an electric car?
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The author uses a comparative analytical approach, evaluating specific market offers and calculating hypothetical scenario models for solar yields and daily commuting costs.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines technical installation components, technical terminology, energy provider concepts, and detailed financial amortisation models including petrol cost savings.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Photovoltaic system, Electric vehicle, Amortisation, Self-sufficiency, and Sustainable mobility.
Why is the degree of self-sufficiency important?
Higher self-sufficiency reduces dependence on the grid and lowers variable electricity costs, which directly improves the financial amortisation of the investment.
Does the author recommend this investment?
Yes, the author concludes that the investment is financially lucrative and environmentally recommended, despite decreasing feed-in tariff rates.
How do petrol costs affect the result?
Integrating petrol savings significantly reduces the system's amortisation period, making the switch to an electric vehicle via home-generated solar power highly attractive.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2017, Domestic installation of a photovoltaic system for charging electronic vehicles, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1496793
