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Solar EV Charger Station Calculator

Enter your commercial charging station specs — get solar system size, demand charge reduction, charging revenue, MACRS+ITC incentives, and payback period.

Charging station details
chargers
sessions/day
$/kWh
$/kW
sq ft
Commercial solar EV station analysis
20 × 400W panels — 83% of charging load offset
Peak demand16.8 kW
Annual kWh delivered to EVs15,330 kWh/yr
Solar system size (canopy fit)8.0 kW DC
Demand charge reduction$979/yr
Annual charging revenue$3,833/yr
Annual solar savings (grid cost)$2,512/yr
Gross system cost$20,000
ITC (30%) credit−$6,000
MACRS 5-yr depreciation benefit−$5,000
Net system cost after incentives$9,000
Simple payback period3.6 yrs
Solar + battery demand-shaving system$29,160 net cost
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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your charging station specifications

Start with the number of charger ports and type. Level 2 (7 kW) chargers suit workplace and retail destinations where vehicles park for 2-8 hours. DC Fast chargers (50 kW) serve highway corridor stops where drivers need 20-40 minutes of charging. Ultra-fast (150 kW) chargers are for premium express stations with high throughput. Enter realistic daily sessions per charger — a busy retail L2 charger sees 3-6 sessions per day; a highway DC fast charger can serve 8-15 vehicles.

Enter demand charge and available area

Commercial demand charges are billed on your peak 15-minute power draw each month — often $8-25 per kilowatt. For a station with 4 DC fast chargers at 50% concurrency, that's 100 kW peak demand adding $1,000-2,500/month to your bill before solar. Solar generation during peak business hours directly reduces this demand spike. Enter the available roof or solar canopy area — parking canopies over EV chargers are an ideal dual-use installation.

Read the results

Results show peak demand, annual energy delivered to vehicles, solar offset percentage based on available area, demand charge reduction value, annual charging revenue from your rate markup, and full commercial incentive analysis including the 30% ITC and MACRS 5-year accelerated depreciation.

The Formula

Peak Demand kW = Charger Count × Charger kW × Concurrency Factor Annual kWh Delivered = Sessions/Day × Avg kWh/Session × 365 System kW = (Daily kWh ÷ Peak Sun Hours ÷ 0.80) limited by roof area Demand Reduction kW = min(Peak Demand, Solar Peak Output) Annual Demand Savings = Demand Reduction × $/kW charge × 12 months Gross System Cost = Panels × 400W × $2.50/W Net Cost = Gross × (1 - 30% ITC - 25% MACRS benefit) Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Solar Savings

Concurrency factor accounts for the reality that not all chargers run simultaneously at full power: L2 chargers see 60% concurrency; DC fast chargers 50%. The MACRS 5-year accelerated depreciation benefit assumes a 25% effective tax rate — actual benefit depends on your tax situation. Solar canopy installations qualify for both the ITC and the EV charging equipment tax credit (30C), potentially stacking incentives.

Example

Green Meadow Retail Center — 8 Level 2 Chargers in Los Angeles

A retail shopping center installs 8 Level 2 (7 kW) chargers for customer parking. They average 12 sessions per charger daily, charge $0.30/kWh, face a $15/kW demand charge, and have 5,000 sq ft of roof space available in LA's excellent sunshine (5.6 PSH).

Chargers8 × Level 2 (7 kW)
Daily sessions12 per charger
Charging rate$0.30/kWh
Demand charge$15/kW/month
Roof area5,000 sq ft
LocationLos Angeles, CA (5.6 PSH)

Result

Peak demand33.6 kW (60% concurrency)
Annual kWh delivered to EVs~204,960 kWh/yr
Solar system (50 panels)20 kW DC from 5,000 sq ft
Annual demand charge reduction~$3,060/yr
Annual charging revenue~$61,488/yr
Net system cost (after ITC + MACRS)~$29,000
Payback period~6.5 years

The 20 kW rooftop system covers roughly 10% of the charging load, but the demand charge reduction and grid cost savings together make the payback compelling. Adding a 67 kWh battery for demand shaving could further reduce the monthly demand charge peak, improving economics at locations with steep demand rates.

FAQ

Yes — solar is particularly valuable for EV charging stations because of two revenue streams: energy cost reduction and demand charge mitigation. Commercial electricity bills include demand charges ($8-25/kW) billed on your peak 15-minute draw each month. Multiple simultaneous fast chargers create a sharp demand spike. Solar canopies generate power precisely during business hours when EV charging load is highest, directly cutting that demand peak. Combined with the 30% ITC and MACRS depreciation, payback periods of 5-8 years are achievable for well-designed stations.
MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System) allows commercial solar systems to be depreciated over 5 years using an accelerated schedule. Combined with the 30% Investment Tax Credit, a commercial entity can recover 55-60% of the system cost in tax benefits in the first year. The ITC reduces your tax liability dollar-for-dollar; MACRS depreciation reduces taxable income. Consult a tax professional — the actual benefit depends on your tax bracket, whether you have enough tax liability to absorb the credit, and bonus depreciation rules.
Solar carport canopies are an excellent option for EV charging stations. Benefits: shaded parking is a customer amenity, the canopy structure cost may be partially offset by the solar value, and the panels generate electricity precisely where it's consumed. Costs run $40-70/sq ft installed versus $20-35/sq ft for rooftop solar. The premium is worthwhile when no suitable roof space exists, or when customer-facing branding value is considered. Many municipalities also offer green parking incentives for solar canopy installations.
For demand charge shaving, you need a battery large enough to fill in during your peak 15-minute demand window. If your station peaks at 200 kW for 15 minutes, a 50 kWh battery can supplement solar and reduce your billed demand. The economics work when the demand charge is high (above $12/kW) and you can reliably reduce the peak. Battery systems for demand shaving typically have a 3-5 year payback at locations with $15+/kW demand charges. Combine solar + battery for maximum savings: solar reduces baseline load; battery handles the peak shaving.
The solar Investment Tax Credit (48E, 30%) and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property credit (30C, up to 30% up to $100,000 per item) are separate credits for separate equipment — the solar panels/inverters qualify for ITC, while the EV charging equipment qualifies for 30C. You cannot double-count the same piece of equipment for both credits, but a solar+EV charging installation typically involves distinct equipment for each system, making both credits potentially available. Always consult a tax attorney or CPA for your specific situation.

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