Plug-in Cars Pay for Rooftop Solar Power: Why Chevron Hates This Idea

Electric cars 97% are cleaner than gasoline cars when plugged-in to off-peak electric power, it's true; but the real advantage comes when the car is paid for by electric from a home rooftop solar Photo-Voltaic ("PV") system. Most EV owners have installed rooftop solar systems, and many generate more electric than needed for daily driving. As a bonus, they pay for that solar system in less than three years, using money that formerly fed the oil beast.

Those driving an EV and paying for it with excess PV power ("EV-PV") can live virtually pollution-free, free of gas stations, oil changes, smog checks, tune-ups, and free of monthly electric utility bills.

Electric is measured in kilo-Watt-hours ("kWh"). Each kWh that is used for domestic electric is worth no more than about 15 cents, enough to power a hair-dryer for half an hour.

But each kWh powers an EV at least 4 miles, and if used to replace gasoline at our average fleet 20 Miles Per Gallon ("MPG") avoids purchasing at least a fifth of a gallon of gas, currently worth no less than 60 cents. Add to that the avoided cost of oil changes, tune-ups, engine repair, smog-checks, etc., and the savings from plug-in cars become even greater.

A solar PV system yields about a 7% Return on Investment ("ROI") if used only for household power. But when used to avoid gasoline purchases, the ROI jumps to 28%, and the solar PV system pays for itself in less than 3 years.

Examining these facts, well documented by dozens of EV-PV homes, which you can visit and examine, it's no wonder that oil and auto companies hate solar power and plug-in EVs. They stand to lose a huge amount of money, political power and perhaps even their current immunity from environmental lawsuits.