Daytime, when it’s used to run factories, light office buildings, and run heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) for office buildings. When people are awake. The difference between day/night electricity needs is quite large.

This electric company will sell electricity to customers at night for about 1/5 (!) of the daytime rate.

So, if you put solar cells on your house, you generate your own electricity when it’s most in demand. If you have an excess during the day you can even help the power company when they need it most. Then they supply you electricity at night, when they have an excess. If the company offers time of day pricing, like the one above, you win even more.

Everybody wins. Solar power works better than you think.

There are a number of options. Being able to carge from solar panels located at ones workplace is one.

Another–we are getting much better and more cost-effective battery storage technology. We may well be able to store solar energy that can then be sued to charge cars (and run homes–at night.

The key isn’t being able to do this–that’s easy. The tough part is to figure out how to do it cost-effictively. But don’t dismiss these–or a number of other ideas that are being worked on..

But–your “questions” are a great capsule summary of the problem–nice post!

Night

Batteries in the garage?

P.S. Night. But the vast majority of my electric use is for air conditioning. And that is during the day. If solar panels were cheaper it would be a perfect use for them. Or if there were solar panels at the parking lot at work, you could charge cars with them there. Riiighhtt?

2. night, so that they can use it in the day.

3. generators?

4. when it’s dark enough and the mosquitoes are bitting you like hell.