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“Power prices rise, battery costs decline, incentives change, life changes.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A homeowner whose solar panels supply nearly triple their household’s power needs took to Reddit’s r/AusSolar forum to ask what they should do with their excess energy.
In the post, they summarized their choice and asked the community, “EV or battery?”
The original poster of the thread wrote that “Been looking at getting a battery to keep a hold of all the excess solar from our panels but the projected savings don’t stack up. Also planning on getting an EV which will increase our usage. However… Do I just get an EV?”
A commenter identifying themselves as a solar installer offered a blunt response, “As an installer, don’t bother with the battery. If your use case is that the EV is home during the day, and your bill is small enough to not worry, then a battery doesn’t make sense for you. That will change if you want off-grid backup protection, or your evening usage starts to increase.”
The top comment shared a similar sentiment: “If you have little to no power bill now a battery doesn’t make sense from a financial perspective. Large upfront cost for little return. Don’t get me wrong, I paid big money for a battery and I love it, but my bills were huge and justified the expense.”
The same commenter added, “Don’t rush in, the batteries keep get[ting] cheaper and cheaper and the lowering rebates don’t really factor in. An EV makes more sense, however, you have to be pragmatic about it.”
As the comments section noted, battery storage can protect your home during outages and increase energy independence. It can also save money on energy by storing solar generation for later use, but only if you have sizable bills.
Homeowners exploring storage can check EnergySage for home battery options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has teamed up with electrification brand Qmerit to help homeowners get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
For households prioritizing backup, Pila is another company offering strong battery backup options. Pila’s plug-and-play batteries cost a fraction of a whole-home backup system. They can keep individual appliances running during a blackout.
The OP later updated the thread to conclude, “Just so many variables. Power prices rise, battery costs decline, incentives change, life changes. But yes, I think where I have landed for now is [that] the numbers don’t add up to get a battery now.”
Other solar owners have also weighed whether a home battery is worth the cost. 
• A UK homeowner sought retrofit storage after an installer dismissed battery storage.
• A Massachusetts solar owner learned VPP payments could reach $1,000 annually after dismissing batteries.
• An Australian family weighed a $6,000 solar-plus-battery purchase before Victoria rebates ended.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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