The Centrica-owned utility has based its analysis on a 2.52kWp system installed at the home of actor and TV presenter Robert Llewellyn, who uses the panels to charge his Nissan LEAF.
Since installing the £11,500 system three months ago, Llewellyn's panels have generated enough energy to power 2,290 miles of the 2,680 miles he has driven during that time – around 85 per cent.
British Gas calculates that it costs £150 to drive 1,000 miles in a petrol car and £37.10 in an electric car, but using Llewellyn's figures for a solar-powered electric car, the same distance costs just £5.38. This means the typical payback period for a solar roof is just four to five years.
Since installing the £11,500 system three months ago, LLewellyn's panels have generated enough energy to power 2,290 miles of the 2,260 miles he has driven, that's 85%.
If the average UK driver travels 12,000 miles per year, an EV owner with a similar sized solar system would spend £65 per year on motoring, saving £1736 on petrol and earning £1,055 in feed-in tariff payments.
In the US, the cost of installing solar fell by 17% in 2010 and by a further 11% during the first 6 months of 2011."
If the average UK driver travels 12,000 miles per year, an EV owner with a similar sized solar system would spend £65 per year on motoring, saving £1736 on petrol and earning £1,055 in feed-in tariff payments.
In the US, the cost of installing solar fell by 17% in 2010 and by a further 11% during the first 6 months of 2011."
