Determinants of Optimizing Solar Photovoltaic Systems for Home Electric Vehicle Charging: Evidence from Malaysian Households

The integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with home electric-vehicle (EV) charging represents a key opportunity to enhance residential energy efficiency and support Malaysia’s low-carbon mobility agenda. However, empirical evidence identifying the determinants that influence the optimisation of solar-powered EV charging remains limited. This study examines four critical factors—EV ownership, energy trading, charging variables, and battery storage—to determine their influence on the optimisation of home EV charging using solar PV systems. A quantitative approach was employed, and data were collected from 384 Malaysian households with experience or interest in solar electric vehicle (EV) usage. The dataset was analysed using SPSS Version 29, incorporating descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate that charging variables and battery storage are significant predictors of optimisation, demonstrating strong positive effects. In contrast, EV ownership and energy trading were not statistically significant in the final model. These results highlight the dominant role of technological determinants, particularly charging configuration and storage capacity, in enabling optimal utilisation of solar energy for residential EV charging. This study contributes new empirical insights to the renewable-energy and electromobility literature by clarifying the technological factors that most strongly influence solar–EV optimisation at the household level. The findings offer practical implications for policymakers, industry practitioners, and homeowners aiming to strengthen Malaysia’s transition toward efficient, solar-powered EV charging systems.

Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Electric Vehicle Charging

1. Albaba, M., Pierce, M., & Yesilata, B. (2025). A Real-World Case Study of Solar PV Integration for EV Charging and Residential Energy Demand in Ireland. Sustainability, 17(21), 9447. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219447 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Ayoade, I. A., & Longe, O. M. (2024). A Comprehensive Review of Smart Electromobility Charging Infrastructure. World Electric Vehicle Journal, 15(7), 286. https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj15070286 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Barman, P., Dutta, L., Bordoloi, S., Kalita, A., Buragohain, P., Bharali, S., & Azzopardi, B. (2023). Renewable Energy Integration with Electric Vehicles: Smart Charging Approaches. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 183, 113518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113518 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bernama. (2024). Move to Boost Solar Panel Installation in Homes. https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2294681 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Cho M-j., Bae K., Byun J., & Shin J. (2025) Expanding the Identification of Key Resource Combinations for Mid- to Long-Term Growth in Electric Vehicle Market Entry. PLoS One 20(8): e0328563. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328563 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (6th ed.). Sage Publications Ltd.. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Etikan, I. (2017). Sampling and sampling methods. Biometrics & Biostatistics International Journal, 5(6). https://doi.org/10.15406/bbij.2017.05.00149 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Fachrizal, R., & Munkhammar, J. (2020). Improved Photovoltaic Self-Consumption in Residential Buildings with Distributed and Centralized Smart Charging of Electric Vehicles. Energies, 13(5), 1153. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13051153 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Fachrizal, R., Shepero, M., Meer, D. Munkhammar, J., & Widen, J. (2020). Smart Charging of Electric Vehicles Considering Photovoltaic Power Production and Electricity Consumption: A Review. eTransportation, 4, 100056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etran.2020.100056 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Hair, J. F., Hult, G., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2020). A Primer on Multivariate Analysis (4th ed.). Pearson. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. International Energy Agency (IEA). (2023). Global EV Outlook 2023. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Joshi, A., Kale, S., & Chandel, S. (2015). Likert scale: Explored and Explained. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 7(4), 396–403. https://doi.org/10.9734/bjast/2015/14975. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607–610. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Muzir, N. A. Q., Mojumder, M. R. H., Hasanuzzaman, A., & Selvaraj, J.. (2022). Challenges of Electric Vehicles and Their Prospects in Malaysia: A Comprehensive Review. Sustainability, 14(14), 8320. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148320 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Rotas, R., Iliadis, P., Nikolopoulos, N., & Tomboulides, A. (2024). Evaluating Synergies between Electric Vehicles and Photovoltaics: A Comparative Study of Urban Environments. World Electric Vehicle Journal, 15(9), 397. https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj15090397 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Sarker, M. T., Haram, M. H. S. M., Shern, S. J., Ramasamy, G., Farid, F. A. (2024). Readiness of Malaysia PV System to Utilize Energy Storage System with Second-Life Electric Vehicle Batteries. Energies, 17(16), 3953. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17163953 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. SEDA. (2021). Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap. https://www.seda.gov.my/reportal/myrer/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Tanoto, Y. (2023). Cost-Reliability Trade-offs for Grid-connected rooftop PV in Emerging Economics: A Case of Indonesia’s Urban Residential Households. Energy, 285. https:// DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.129388 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2, 53–55. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Umair, M., Hidayat, N. M.,Ali, N. H. N., Nasir, N. S. M., Hakomori, T., & Abdullah, E. (2024). A Review of Malaysia’s Current State and Future in Electric Vehicles. Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, water and Environment Systems, 12(4), 1120522. http://dx.doi.org/10.13044/j.sdewes.d12.0522 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar