Carport mounted solar arrays to charge EVs for commercial buildings

[sramirezgozalo]

Hello,

I am designing a carport mounted solar array to charge electric vehicles for business parking lots. I have a few questions regarding the connections between the solar array, the EVs and the main building panel. As the electricity will be used by the electric cars during the day can the generation source, PV and the loads, EVs be connected to the same subpanel that is then connected to the main panel of the building with a current limiting device to avoid overloading the main panel? Also, as inverters are grid-following, can the solar array exceed the CB rating and wire size as long as there is means to limit the solar array output?

Thank you.

 

[ICE]

You need the services of an electrical engineer.

The picture is a portion of the underground conduit required for a bank of EV chargers in a public parking lot. That's not to say that your plan will be as extensive but .... large or small, you need an engineer.

 

[north star]

@ ~ @

sramirezgonzalo,

Welcome to The Building Code Forum !

@ ~ @

 

[sramirezgozalo]

Thank you for sharing this information with me. With that being said, hypothetically speaking, according to the NEC code would it be possible for the PV and the Evs to share the same subpanel for a commercial building? And again, according to the electric code, can the solar array exceed the CB rating and wire size as long as there is means to limit the solar array output?

 

[e hilton]

It sounds like you are a carport salesman, or maybe an entrepreneur who is trying to market a product that will make you famous and wealthy. Also sounds like you have no concept of the electrical codes or design requirements. Asbpointed put in the first response … you need to hire a qualified electrical engineer.

 

[Paul Sweet]

Check with the power company. They might have restrictions on reselling electricity.

Familiarize yourself with National Electrical Code Article 690 - Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

 

[steveray]

Panels can be shared...Find an engineer....A good one....

 

[Msradell]

You need the services of an electrical engineer.

The picture is a portion of the underground conduit required for a bank of EV chargers in a public parking lot. That's not to say that your plan will be as extensive but .... large or small, you need an engineer.

View attachment 9233

The sad part is that the public is paying for this (at least that's my assumption) and it will only benefit a small segment of the population! Of course it is California which explains a lot!