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What is the best way to use solar & Charge Anytime (Kia EV6)?

  • May 28, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 127 views
T
Carbon Cutter*****
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Hi all,

Very quick question as a search seems to generate an answer which is then quickly contradicted!

I pick up a MY22 Kia EV6 later this week & want to get a home charge point installed (it’s not particularly urgent as I can charge at work in the meantime and I’m only doing 400-ish miles a month).

My home has solar panels, generating anything between 10-25 kWh per day at the moment. No battery currently but that’s on the radar in a year or two.

As I work from home two days a week, my aim is to charge during the day from the solar and sign up for Charge Anytime to act as a backup during the Winter months and for any night time charging that might be required.

Reading through the various page, it seems that there are only two chargers which are compatible with solar - Indra & Hypervolt.

Does anyone have experience of either of these chargers with their own solar setup, or is there anything to be aware of which might lead me to one over the other?

Thanks in advance.

Best answer by BobTom

Your best usage of Charge Anytime will be to keep it plugged in at all times when not driving the car.

I have panels on my roof. There is a recent article on capturing excess solar using an Indra. However I am yet to understand the extent of the advantage of using solar to power my car given the Charge Anytime rate is 7p per kWh. I use the solar to defray my home energy costs and the FIT export tariff is an equivalent unit cost albeit an estimated sum in my case.

5 replies

BobTom
Carbon Catcher**
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  • BobTom
  • Carbon Catcher**
  • Answer
  • May 28, 2025

Your best usage of Charge Anytime will be to keep it plugged in at all times when not driving the car.

I have panels on my roof. There is a recent article on capturing excess solar using an Indra. However I am yet to understand the extent of the advantage of using solar to power my car given the Charge Anytime rate is 7p per kWh. I use the solar to defray my home energy costs and the FIT export tariff is an equivalent unit cost albeit an estimated sum in my case.

Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
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  • Blastoise186Plan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • May 28, 2025

Generally, I’ve seen pretty good reports of Hypervolt and Indra playing well with Charge Anytime and Solar. Given the current situation with Indra still finding their feet with the new setup right now though, you may want to lean towards the Hypervolt way for now.

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T
Carbon Cutter*****
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  • TonyB-Dorset
  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*****
  • May 28, 2025

You’ve given me some food for thought there. I’ve worked out my weekly top-up on Charge Anytime will be about £2.10, so getting that FOC via the solar isn’t exactly going to break the bank!

My FIT export is a piece of guesswork/witchcraft too.

O
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  • oho
  • Carbon Catcher*
  • May 28, 2025

I tend to agree it doesn’t always make sense to use solar to charge your EV. But it can supplement it in some cases, as in mine.

My solar primarily supplies the house, then next priority is the home battery. If those are both being met (i.e. all house load met and battery 100%), I export. However, if the export is over 1.4kw, then I use that to add EV charge. I figure the small amount of export lost at 4p saves a small amount of EV charge at 7p.

juliamc
Chris_OVO
Community Manager
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  • Chris_OVO
  • Community Manager
  • May 29, 2025

Hey ​@TonyB-Dorset,

 

Great question! You’ve had amazing feedback so far from some of our community members. Any calculations you make feel free to put them up if you feel comfortable enough and i’m sure others wouldn’t mind sharing advice on them. 

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