Residential EV charging integrated with home solar systems

Residential EV charging infrastructure is increasingly being integrated with rooftop solar and battery storage to improve energy self-consumption and reduce grid dependency. In this context, SolarEdge introduced its ONE EV Charger residential charging station for the French market.

Coordinating EV charging with photovoltaic energy availability
The SolarEdge ONE EV Charger is designed to operate as part of a residential energy system combining photovoltaic generation, battery storage and energy management software. The system dynamically adjusts charging power based on available surplus solar generation to increase solar self-consumption.

The charger operates within the SolarEdge ONE smart energy management environment, which manages charging schedules based on electricity tariffs and available solar production. Functions include dynamic power control, automatic switching between single-phase and three-phase operation, load balancing and scheduled charging aligned with time-of-use tariffs.

These capabilities reflect broader developments in residential energy management, where EV charging is increasingly integrated into distributed energy systems to support energy optimisation and demand management.

Hardware design aligned with French charging standards
The charging station uses a Type 2 (T2) connector and incorporates a cable locking mechanism allowing the charging cable to remain secured to the unit when not in use. When used with T2S (Type 2 with safety shutters) cables, this configuration supports compliance with French electrical safety requirements.

The locking mechanism also addresses practical installation concerns such as cable security and maintaining a ready-to-use charging configuration for residential users.

Installation considerations for residential solar installers
The charging station was designed to simplify installation workflows for residential solar installers. With a weight below 2.5 kg and a clip-on wall mounting system, the hardware can be physically installed in less than ten minutes under suitable site conditions.

Commissioning is integrated into the SolarEdge installation environment used for solar inverters and battery storage systems, allowing installers to configure multiple system components within a single digital commissioning process. Connectivity options include both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet integration.

System monitoring and control functions are available through a mobile application that enables homeowners to manage photovoltaic generation, storage and EV charging from a single interface, supporting the concept of a residential smart energy ecosystem.

Extended functionality in Pro version
A Pro version of the charging station is also available with additional connectivity and metering capabilities. These include LTE connectivity and a MID-certified energy meter to support applications such as energy billing or reimbursement.

The Pro version is also designed to support future bidirectional charging scenarios such as vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G), subject to regulatory and standards adoption. Additional planned features include Plug & Charge functionality intended to automate vehicle authentication and charging authorisation.

These developments reflect the growing role of bidirectional charging within distributed energy systems and the evolving role of electric vehicles as flexible energy assets within residential power management architectures.

Edited by industrial journalist Aishwarya Mambet, with AI-assistance.

www.solaredge.com