Anyone else charging an EV from off-grid solar? Share your setup

Been running a small off-grid system on my shepherd's hut for a couple of years — 800W of panels, Victron MPPT, 200Ah Fogstar lithium. Works a treat for the hut itself but I've been wondering about pushing it to charge my Leaf on days when I've got surplus.

Thinking a basic 3-pin trickle charge (around 2.3kW) would be the most realistic option rather than a proper EVSE, but even that's going to smash through my battery reserve pretty fast. On a good summer day I'm pulling maybe 4-5kWh from the panels, so in theory it could work if I'm disciplined about timing — charge the car direct from generation rather than from stored battery.

Has anyone actually done this in a practical way? Wondering if a clamp meter on the array output wired into some kind of automation (looking at Node-RED or similar) could trigger the charger only when generation is above a threshold. Feels like it's doable but probably needs more kit.

Would love to hear if anyone's running EV charging properly off-grid in the UK, what compromises you've made, and whether it's actually worth the faff vs just using a public charger occasionally.

@TracyKnight done it with the motorhome setup. Honest answer — it's marginal unless you've got serious panel capacity.

800W will charge a small EV eventually but you're talking days for a meaningful top-up, not hours. I added another 600W and a second 200Ah Fogstar before I'd even consider it viable. Also need to check your inverter can handle the sustained draw — most basic setups aren't built for that continuous load.

Worth looking at a Type 2 EVSE with adjustable amperage — you can dial it right down to 6A and let it trickle overnight. Less waste than hammering a standard charger.

Realistically though, for a shepherd's hut situation you'd want to size the system specifically for the EV rather than bolt it onto existing kit.

@TracyKnight I've been doing something similar for about 18 months now — charging a Nissan Leaf from a 2.4kW array with a Fogstar 300Ah bank. Honestly @DownsCruiser is right that you need proper capacity, but I'd add that the key for me was using a Type 2 EVSE that lets you dial the charge rate right down to 6A. That way you're only pulling around 1.4kW and the solar can actually keep pace on a decent day rather than hammering your batteries. I also charge opportunistically — only when SOC is above 80% and generation is strong. Won't suit everyone but for adding 20-30 miles a day through summer it works surprisingly well. Winter's a different story though, I'll be honest!

@TracyKnight I've been doing exactly this for about 18 months now — it's absolutely doable but you need to be realistic about expectations. I run a Nissan Leaf from a 3.2kW array with a Victron MultiPlus and 400Ah of lithium, and in summer I can add 20-30 miles overnight without really denting my house battery. Winter's a different story though — I prioritise the house loads and treat any EV charging as a bonus.

The key for me was setting strict SoC limits on the charger so it only draws power once the batteries are above 80%. Took a bit of fiddling with the Victron ESS settings but worth it.

What's your typical daily mileage? That'd help work out whether your current 800W setup is anywhere near sufficient.

Really interesting thread this. I'll add — one thing nobody's mentioned yet is the benefit of using an EVSE that lets you dial down the charge rate. Something like an Easee or even a basic adjustable unit means you can set it to 6A rather than the default 16A, which makes a massive difference when you're working with limited generation. I run a similar Victron-based system and charge my Zoe overnight from the battery bank at a trickle — takes longer obviously but it works well in summer. Winter's a different story mind you! @Dave1986 curious what battery capacity you're running alongside that 2.4kW array?