A Solar suystem may be leased for $0 down and approximately the same monthly cost as a typical electric bill (assuming at least $150 per month in usage, which would likely apply for anyone who had an electric car, A/C). http://www.solarcity.com[/quote%5D
The Nissan Leaf is EPA rated at 73 miles per charge and 34 kwh per 100 miles. (This last number may be battery-to-wheels, then wall-to-wheels would be about 10% worse, but let’s go with 34 kwh.)
Because of the low range and long recharge time, interstate trips are out of the question, so your annual mileage will be below average, say, 10,000 miles. You need a PV system that produces 3400 kwh/year. In San Diego, that’s 2.5 kw DC.
You can get a system of that size installed for about 12k after tax breaks.
Add 25k for the car itself. (People are getting it for 20k because there’s a 5k California credit, but there’s not much money allocated for the credit, and there’s a long waitlist to get the Leaf, so even if you get in line today, the money may run out.) 27k after the sales tax.
You will also need to install a charger in your garage. Not sure how much the charger is, but let’s say $1000.
So you can get a PV car setup that will require zero energy until either the car or the PV system breaks, and it will cost you 40k out of pocket.
If you don’t want to get the car and the PV system at the same time, you can power the car off the grid. At the SDG&E EV rate you will pay $50/month for the electricity, plus whatever they charge you to install a second meter.
