Smart Solar Charging

[ridgebackpilot]

My newly-installed Emporia Level 2 smart charger immediately recognized my Emporia Vue Utility Connect, and began charging my Lightning using only excess solar energy. The truck seemed to accept a lower rate of charge without any problems.

Today I’ve been watching the Emporia charge my Lightning all morning. It’s a cloudy day with intermittent direct sun.

Once my Powerwalls charged to 100%, the Emporia sensed surplus solar production being sent back to the grid and began to use it instead to charge my car. When the sun came out, the charger ramped up to the full 40 amps maximum. When the clouds obscured the sun, the charger would scale back the charge rate to less current. It matched the solar production pretty well. The Lightning didn’t seem to mind the varying current coming from the charger at all.

So far, I’m impressed with the Emporia!

 

[markboris]

My newly-installed Emporia Level 2 smart charger immediately recognized my Emporia Vue Utility Connect, and began charging my Lightning using only excess solar energy. The truck seemed to accept a lower rate of charge without any problems.

Today I’ve been watching the Emporia charge my Lightning all morning. It’s a cloudy day with intermittent direct sun.

Once my Powerwalls charged to 100%, the Emporia sensed surplus solar production being sent back to the grid and began to use it instead to charge my car. When the sun came out, the charger ramped up to the full 40 amps maximum. When the clouds obscured the sun, the charger would scale back the charge rate to less current. It matched the solar production pretty well. The Lightning didn’t seem to mind the varying current coming from the charger at all.

So far, I’m impressed with the Emporia!

The Lightning and Mach-E haven't had any charging issues with the Emporia EV charger that I have seen. I've been using them for about 6 months now charging on excess solar only. Same as you once my Powerwalls are charged to 100%, the Emporia charger starts charging with excess solar. Just for your information, the charger needs to see a minimum of 1.4kW of excess solar for a constant 2 minutes before it starts charging.

 

[MurphysLaww]

good to see. Our 3.6kW Truck charger project is using the Ford Charge Station Pro at least initially, but if there are snafu's with it, I'll be picking up one of these.

 

[aldera]

I just got my 2024 Lightning Lariat about a month ago. I have an Enphase/LG solar panel system that is rated at 7.92kW but in actual practice puts out 6.5kW when it's sunny. I have a Ford Charger Station Pro and was trying to figure out how to use the excess solar and ran across this post. I have an Emporia Vue 2 system already so it looks like I can get up and running for only $399. I've already got the 240V hardwiring in place with my Ford charger so it should be an easy swap out.

I also see that they're coming out with a V2X bi-directional charger. I'll have to see when that is available and if I should wait for that one.

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