Charge on Solar

With Charge on Solar, your Tesla vehicle can charge using only excess solar energy produced by your Tesla solar system. Using excess energy to charge your electric vehicle maximizes the value of your home’s solar system. Use the Tesla app to set Charge on Solar limits and have your vehicle charge using extra solar energy.

To use this feature, you need the following hardware and software at a minimum:

Hardware	Software
Model S, Model 3, Model X or Model Y¹	2023.32 or Higher
Powerwall with solar on site	23.12.10 or Higher
Tesla app	4.30.5 or Higher

Note: We do not send software updates to individual vehicles upon request. We recommend staying connected to Wi-Fi to receive the latest software updates. Your owner’s manual will have step-by-step instructions on how to connect your vehicle to Wi-Fi. Learn how to confirm your Tesla vehicle's firmware version. For any questions or concerns on Powerwall software, contact the Energy Customer Support team.

Setting Up Charge on Solar in the Tesla App

To set up Charge on Solar in the Tesla app, follow these steps:

Open the Tesla app.
Select your vehicle.
Tap ‘Charge on Solar.’

Follow the prompts to set your charge limit and a charge location.

Every time you charge at your configured location, Charge on Solar will automatically charge your vehicle to your set charge limit using only extra solar energy.

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Charge Limits

In the Tesla app, Charge on Solar has a sun slider that lets your vehicle charge from any energy source, so you have confidence your vehicle has the range you need for your daily driving needs, even if there isn’t enough excess solar to charge your vehicle. This slider appears to the left of your usual charge limit slider you’re already familiar with.

You can adjust your charge limits in the Tesla app or from the vehicle touchscreen when your vehicle is at your Charge on Solar charging location.

Follow these steps while your vehicle is plugged in:

Open the Tesla app.
Select your vehicle.
Drag the left slider with a sun icon left or right. Your vehicle will charge to this level from solar and the grid.
Drag the right slider left or right. Your vehicle will charge on excess solar to this charge limit.

Your vehicle will charge from solar and the grid when your current charge level is below the left sun slider. After your vehicle's charge level passes the sun slider, your vehicle automatically switches to only charge on excess solar up to your charge limit. Solar power and home loads are variables so if you ever want to charge faster, you can simply increase the lower charge limit to a desired range.

To maximize solar charging and have enough range, plug in your vehicle during daytime whenever you’re at home. Set the Charge on Solar sun slider at a level that ensures you always have enough range for daily driving if there is not enough excess solar to charge your vehicle above this limit.

Typical Operation

The scenario below shows typical Charge on Solar behavior when a Tesla vehicle is plugged in at a home with Powerwall. Notice that the vehicle will adjust charge power approximately every 10 seconds to match the excess solar power and power consumption elsewhere in your home.

Note: Your vehicle may delay the start of charging until there is at least 1.2kW of stable excess solar to maximize efficiency and lifetime of your charging equipment.

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Using Scheduled Charging with Charge on Solar

Scheduled Charging allows you to charge your vehicle’s battery with excess solar only until a specific time. Once your selected time arrives, your vehicle will accept charging from any source up to your lower charging limit. If you have a time-of-use rate plan, you may benefit from using both Charge on Solar and Scheduled Charging since your Tesla vehicle will charge from excess solar during the day and, also, charge from the grid at night when energy costs are low.

To schedule charging in the Tesla app, follow these steps:

Open the Tesla app.
Select your vehicle.
Select ‘Schedule.’
Enable ‘Schedule’ and select a time.

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Using Powerwall Modes with Charge on Solar

The following Powerwall modes work seamlessly with Charge on Solar:

Storm Watch
Powerwall will prioritize charging from any source to prepare for an outage during severe weather events before allocating any excess solar power for vehicle charging.
Backup Reserve
If your Powerwall’s stored energy is below the Backup Reserve, your Powerwall will prioritize charging to the set Backup Reserve percentage before allocating any excess solar power for vehicle charging.
Self-Powered
With Self-Powered, Powerwall will allow your Tesla vehicle to charge on excess solar until the set charge limit while covering changes in home loads and solar production until the vehicle adjusts its charging power. Once the vehicle has met its charging limit, your Powerwall will charge on excess solar as usual. This is the recommended mode to maximize Charge on Solar operation with your vehicle.
Time-Based Control
With Time-Based Control, Powerwall stores energy when energy costs are low and may sell that low-cost energy back to the grid when energy costs are higher instead of using the excess solar energy for Charge on Solar. You may also see this behavior during virtual power plant or utility program events. In most cases, you will see the vehicle pause charging during Peak to prioritize total savings or charge your Powerwall from excess solar while charging your vehicle during Off-Peak from the grid.
Go Off-Grid
When Powerwall is off-grid, your Tesla vehicle will continue to charge on excess solar unless Powerwall prioritizes saving energy for home use during the outage.

Note: Certain Powerwall modes may not be available in your country at this time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions Show All Hide All

Customers must own a Powerwall and a Tesla vehicle to use Charge on Solar. In addition, your Tesla app, Tesla vehicle and Powerwall must all fit the proper firmware requirements.

Note: All sites need to have solar without export limits and site limits.
The Charge on Solar feature relies on the vehicle and Powerwall having a stable internet connection. Ensure that the vehicle and Powerwall are both connected to your Wi-Fi before setting up.

In rare instances, you may need to unpair and repair your solar system in the Charge on Solar settings.
To use Charge on Solar, you must pair your phone with your Powerwall. To resolve the error, pair your Powerwall with each mobile device you use to access Charge on Solar. To do so, open the Tesla app and follow these steps:

Switch to your energy site.

Tap ‘Configure.’

Scroll down and tap ‘Phone Pairing.’

When prompted, toggle the enable switch (located on the right side of your Powerwall) off, then back on.

Click on the “Charge on Solar” entry banner on your vehicle screen and complete the setup.

Note: Ensure your Powerwall is nearby when phone pairing.
A charging location is required to ensure your vehicle does not only accept excess solar energy in locations where no solar energy is available to your vehicle.
When in Charge on Solar mode, your Tesla vehicle may delay the start of charging until there is at least 1.2kW of stable excess solar to maximize efficiency and lifetime of your charging equipment. This helps account for variability in solar power and home loads.
Yes. If you charge more than one Tesla vehicle at a time using Charge on Solar, the first vehicle to plug in will receive all the excess solar energy until it reaches the charge limit you’ve set. Once that limit is reached, the excess solar energy will be sent to the second vehicle.
If you are in a rush and need to charge your vehicle quickly, you can increase your lower Charge limit. This will allow your vehicle to charge at the maximum allowed power from solar, storage or the grid.
To access Charge on Solar settings, tap the lightning bolt icon in your vehicle profile in the Tesla app. Access the menu to disable the feature. These settings are available to you even if the vehicle is not at the Charge on Solar location.

To access Charge by Solar settings on your vehicle touchscreen, check your ‘Charging’ section when your vehicle is parked at the Charge on Solar location.

To turn off Charge on Solar from the Tesla app, tap the lightning bolt icon in your vehicle profile in the Tesla app, then access the menu to disable the feature.

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¹ 2012-2020 Model S and 2015-2020 Model X are not eligible for this feature currently.