Solar + EV integration

Electric SUV solar sizing calculator

SUV-class energy use doesn't match a sedan's numbers. Add your efficiency, driving, and cargo habits for a panel count built around the real difference.

Your SUV, driving, and load

1 Project details Optional
2 Your driving
Find this on fueleconomy.gov. Electric SUVs typically run 30 to 40 kWh per 100 miles.
3 Passenger and cargo load
Full passengers, cargo, or roof-rack use. Enter 0 if usually lightly loaded.
Typical penalty for a fully loaded SUV is 10 to 20% above lightly loaded efficiency.
4 Solar panel specs
Check NREL's PVWatts for a US address or NRCan's solar maps for Canada.

How it works

Three steps to your SUV sizing

Step 1

Find your exact model's EPA rating

SUV efficiency varies more than people expect between compact and three-row models. Check fueleconomy.gov for your specific trim.

Step 2

Be realistic about how often you're fully loaded

Daily commuting solo looks very different from regular family hauling duty with a full cabin and cargo.

Step 3

Compare against other vehicle classes for context

If you're deciding between an SUV and a sedan, the electric sedan solar sizing calculator shows the same math for a smaller, more efficient vehicle.

Understanding electric SUV solar sizing

Where SUVs fall in the vehicle efficiency spectrum

Electric SUVs generally sit between sedans and trucks on efficiency, typically running 30 to 40 kWh per 100 miles, per fueleconomy.gov ratings, compared to 24 to 28 for efficient sedans and 40 to 55 for full-size trucks. This middle-ground position means SUV solar sizing usually lands meaningfully above sedan-based estimates but well below truck-based ones for the same daily driving.

Passenger and cargo load has a real, measurable effect

Added weight from passengers, cargo, or roof-mounted accessories increases rolling resistance and slightly increases aerodynamic drag if a roof box or rack is involved, which raises energy consumption above the lightly loaded EPA figure. This effect is usually smaller than a full towing penalty, typically in the 10 to 20% range, but still worth accounting for if the vehicle regularly carries a full family and cargo load.

Trim and drivetrain choice shifts the baseline number

All-wheel-drive versions of the same electric SUV model typically carry a somewhat lower EPA efficiency rating than the base front or rear-wheel-drive trim, due to the added weight and mechanical friction of the extra drivetrain hardware. If you're still deciding between trims, checking both ratings on fueleconomy.gov before finalizing your solar sizing avoids having to adjust the panel count later.

Three-row and larger SUVs need a closer look

A compact electric SUV and a three-row, seven-passenger electric SUV can carry meaningfully different efficiency ratings despite both being categorized as SUVs, since the larger model's added size and weight increases energy consumption per mile. Always check the specific model's rating rather than relying on a single SUV-wide average figure. If you're sizing for a larger family alongside the vehicle, the system size by household size tool covers the rest of that picture.

How to act on this result

If you're weighing a second vehicle in the household, the two EV household solar sizing calculator combines multiple vehicles into one panel count. Otherwise, take this figure to the EV charger sizing calculator to confirm your electrical setup can support the added load. Night charging needs stored power. The battery storage size calculator in our Battery & Storage section can help you size a battery for the miles you drive each day.

Questions

Frequently asked

An electric SUV at roughly 34 kWh per 100 miles typically lands between a sedan at 24 to 28 kWh and a truck at 40 to 55 kWh per 100 miles, needing meaningfully more panels than a sedan but fewer than a full-size truck for the same daily driving.

Yes, added weight from passengers and cargo increases energy consumption, though usually by a smaller margin than towing a trailer. A 10 to 20% penalty on days the SUV is heavily loaded is a reasonable planning adjustment for family hauling duty.

Yes, three-row and larger electric SUVs generally carry higher EPA efficiency figures than compact electric SUVs due to their larger size and weight. Check your specific model's rating on fueleconomy.gov rather than assuming a single SUV-wide average.

Use whichever trim and drivetrain configuration you actually plan to purchase, since all-wheel-drive versions of the same SUV typically carry a somewhat lower efficiency rating than the base rear or front-wheel-drive trim due to added drivetrain weight and friction.

Related tools

See sizing tools for other EV types

Electric truck solar sizing Electric sedan solar sizing Two EV household sizing Battery size vs panel count EV charging load addition Charger sizing with solar Rural long commute sizing All solar + EV tools