[Custom Component] Solar EV Manager - Dynamic Tesla Solar Tracking & Octopus

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Intelligent Handoff

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Hi everyone! :waving_hand:

I wanted to share a custom integration I just released via HACS called Solar EV Manager.

If you have a Tesla, Solar Panels, and a smart overnight tariff like Octopus Intelligent, you probably know the struggle. You want the car to charge from excess solar during the day, but you also want your smart tariff to take over and schedule cheap charging at night. Usually, these two goals fight each other, requiring complex YAML templates and automations to manage the handoff.

I built this integration to act as the ultimate referee and handle everything natively in the background with zero YAML required.

:bullseye: What it does

It dynamically adjusts your Tesla’s charging speed (Amps) second-by-second to match your roof’s solar production, ensuring your house appliances always get priority and you never accidentally pull from the grid. When the sun goes down (or you turn the master switch off), it automatically pauses the car and hands control back to Octopus Energy so your nightly off-peak schedules work perfectly.

:sparkles: Key Features

  • 100% GUI Configuration: Fully utilizes Home Assistant’s Config Flow. Set up and map all your sensors directly through the UI dropdown menus. No YAML!
  • Live, Bulletproof Math: It doesn’t rely on delayed inverter cloud data. It takes your live Grid CT clamp (Import/Export) and adds it to your live EV Charger Load to calculate true excess.
  • Voltage Accuracy: It divides your True Excess Watts by your Live Grid Voltage to calculate the exact Amps available, preventing mathematical overdraws caused by voltage fluctuations.
  • Dynamic Throttling: Seamlessly slides the Tesla’s charging limit up and down (between 5A and 32A). If solar drops below 5A (e.g., someone turns on the oven), it pauses the charge completely until the sun returns.
  • Octopus Handoff: Automatically toggles the Octopus Intelligent Smart Charge switch to suspend the schedule during the day and resume it at night.

:clipboard: Prerequisites

Currently, this is only compatible with Tesla vehicles (utilizing the Tesla Fleet API’s native ability to adjust charging amps on the fly).

You will need:

  1. A Grid Power Sensor (Watts, Negative for Export).
  2. An EV Charger Power Sensor (Watts).
  3. A Live House Voltage Sensor (Volts).
  4. The Tesla Integration (switch.charge, number.charge_current, sensor.charging).
  5. The Octopus Energy Integration (switch.octopus_intelligent_smart_charge...).

:rocket: Installation

It is fully compatible with HACS. Just add it as a custom repository!

GitHub Repository: https://github.com/acarlo79/solar-ev-manager

Once downloaded and Home Assistant is restarted, just go to Settings > Devices & Services > Add Integration, search for “Solar EV Manager”, and follow the setup wizard.

I built this to scratch my own itch, but I hope it helps out other Tesla/Octopus users here. I would love any feedback, bug reports, or suggestions! Let me know if you give it a try.