Solar Love
  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls

Solar Love

  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls
Rooftop Solar

Tesla Model S + Solar Power = Fossil-fuel Free Living

by Jake Richardson September 9, 2014
written by Jake Richardson September 9, 2014
Tesla Model S + Solar Power = Fossil-fuel Free Living

A couple in Michigan uses rooftop solar on their home and garage to generate electricity for their personal needs and to power a Tesla Model S. The Tesla sedan did cost the couple $85,000. Most Americans can’t afford such an expensive car, but it isn’t necessary to buy a Tesla Model S, if you want an electric car.

tesla model s

A number of years ago, a Washington state couple was running their home and charging a Nissan Leaf with a home solar array. A news article published in 2011 described their system and how they would make about $8 every time they drove their Leaf 100 miles. The cost of a Nissan Leaf is about $33,000. You can buy a Tesla Model S base edition for much less than $85,000, but even at $69,000, its still too much for most Americans.

However, Tesla is planning to produce a smaller EV that has a large range with a cost in the $30,000-$40,000 range. In 2016, Chevy might also produce a more affordable electric vehicle with a range of about 200 miles.

There is also the possibility of building one’s own electric car, but this is not very likely for most, because they don’t have the interest or technical knowledge.

The husband in Michigan said that generating his own power was a lifelong dream. “I’m the extreme early adopter. I’m a zealot. We’ve got to get off of these frickin’ fossil fuels.”

At the moment, achieving energy independence is not in financial reach for most Americans. There are some people that are leading they way and setting an example for what will almost undoubtedly will become a much larger trend.

Though clean energy technology and electric vehicles seem new today, electric vehicles have been around for over one hundred years. Also, well over one hundred years an American man named Charles Brush designed and built a huge wind turbine to power his home. He  had his own battery storage system.

It appears that today, with solar power, there are many Charles Brushes, at least in the sense of the drive that some early adopters have to embrace the new technology and gradually become less grid dependent. Fortunately, we don’t have to build our own systems.

Image: Oleg Alexandrov, Wiki Commons

chevy sonicenergy independenceNissan LeafTesla Model S
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterest
Jake Richardson

has been writing about solar energy for years on sites like CleanTechnica, Care2, and Planetsave. He enjoys the outdoors and is passionate about protecting life on this planet. You can connect with Jake on Google Plus.

previous post
Monthly Rooftop Solar Fee Rejected In Utah
next post
SolarCity Growing Its Operations In 7 States

You may also like

Top New York Solar Installers

November 10, 2017

US Trade Commission Finds That Imports Of Cheap...

September 23, 2017

Leading North Carolina Solar Companies

September 20, 2017

North Carolina Solar Energy (In Depth)

September 20, 2017

Best Arizona Solar Installers

September 11, 2017

Top Hawaii Solar Installers

September 11, 2017

California Solar Installers

August 22, 2017

Nissan & Eaton Bring Residential Storage Batteries To...

May 8, 2017

NREL Releases Landmark Residential Solar + Energy Storage...

March 30, 2017

Sunrun Expands Residential Solar Service Into Wisconsin

March 30, 2017

Follow Me

Facebook

Recent Posts

  • Meet PVCase: A 3D Solar Design Software That Every PV Designer Should Consider

    June 12, 2019
  • Mitsui To Partner With Indian Company For Distributed Solar Projects

    June 10, 2019
  • India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To ISA Members

    June 9, 2019
  • Equinor & Scatec Solar Complete 162 Megawatt Brazilian Solar Plant

    November 29, 2018
  • Gamesa Awarded 400 Megawatt Solar Project In Egypt

    November 29, 2018
  • Facebook

@2019 - All Right Reserved solarlove.org


Back To Top