Commission the photovoltaic system and charge the electric car.

Hello everyone,

our photovoltaic system is to be put into operation soon. I now have several questions about the topic and hope to get helpful ideas.

1. I am currently dealing with all the tax stuff. Monthly VAT pre-registration with Elster etc. seems to be relatively simple. Still, the question here is: does anyone have a link or a guide or a homepage where the whole topic is explained understandably for amateurs?

2. The topic of one or two meters for household and heat pump has been discussed here several times. I have decided for now to stick with two meters. Since in the best case I want to supply both heating and household with the photovoltaic system, the photovoltaic seller recommended a "Power to Heat" circuit. Does anyone have experience with this and can give me tips? The electrician who will soon install the system rather advised against it and only wanted to cover household electricity with the photovoltaic system. What is better?

3. Now it gets a bit off-topic: since my car gave up, I am considering getting an electric car. Does anyone have experience with how well charging an electric car with the photovoltaic system works? Of course, winter is rather bad since the car won’t be at home during the day. The wallbox is already ordered. But I am still unsure whether it really makes sense. The car would stand in the garage all weekend continuously. There should be enough hours for the car to be full by Monday.

4. Now it gets even more off-topic: since house construction and upcoming outdoor facilities cost money, such an unplanned vehicle purchase hurts a bit. Since I want to keep my reserves untouched, I could imagine leasing an electric car. Thanks to the environmental bonus, the monthly burden should be relatively small. I had an appointment at a car dealership yesterday. When I compare their offer with offers from the internet, there are sometimes very big differences. On common leasing platforms, car dealerships also offer leasing. But cheaper than the local dealer. Does anyone know how these differences come about and whether the online offers are trustworthy? Has anyone perhaps leased a car online?

Thanks and regards

Stefan

Since I want to leave my savings untouched, I could imagine leasing an electric car.

When it comes to new cars, I would currently only lease both combustion engine cars and electric cars. The depreciation in the next few years is quite uncertain, whether due to political framework conditions or technical developments. This can cause the depreciation to explode quickly.

I also had an appointment at a car dealership yesterday. When I compare their offer with offers from the internet, there are sometimes very large differences. On the common leasing platforms, car dealerships also offer leasing. Only cheaper than the local dealer. Does anyone know how these differences come about and whether the online offers are trustworthy? Has anyone perhaps already leased a car online?

The online offers are usually directly aimed at competitive conditions compared to other online offers. The local dealer will not offer the same conditions on their own without comparison offers.

Since regular dealers always stand behind the online offers, it is often likely that the local dealer can offer the same or similar conditions if you confront them with a comparison offer.

If not, I have also often leased from a more distant dealer. Especially with German brands, I like to use factory pickup with factory tours, etc. Then the local dealer only differs at the return.

When it comes to new cars, I would currently only lease both combustion engines and electric cars.

So new cars would only be an option if it’s about the electric car. And there really only leasing would come into question. Since the car is exclusively used to bring me to work and back, I would only buy used cars for combustion engines.
The electric car became interesting as an alternative because of the photovoltaic system and the bonus.

The online offers are mostly directly aimed at competitive conditions compared to other online offers. The local dealer will not offer the same conditions on his own without comparison offers.

Since there are always regular dealers behind the online offers, it is often likely that the local dealer can offer the same or similar conditions if you confront him with a comparison offer.

If not, I have also leased from a more distant dealer more often. Especially with German brands I like to use factory pickup with factory tour, etc.

Ok. That means online offers should not be immediately dismissed as unreliable. From my feeling, I always prefer to buy locally, or in this case to lease, since the contact person is nearby. I will show him a comparison offer that is up to 80/month cheaper. Although they should also know that people compare prices...

I now also have a Passat GTE and it is really great. On Wednesdays and Sundays it is charged at home through the photovoltaic system. Otherwise, it’s difficult in the evenings because not much comes from the roof anymore then. The last time I refueled was at the end of May. And so far I have driven 60 km four times a week each. Back then I also found the GTE on a leasing bargain platform and then wrote to several VW dealers. Only outrageous offers came back. Except one dealer almost in my neighborhood accepted the online offer from Bavaria. Otherwise, I would have had no problem getting it from the Bavarian dealer. Pick-up near me at the Gläserne Manufaktur which is 30 minutes away would have been no problem, or rather I still picked it up there because the transfer was cheaper than at the dealer. In the past years, I have also gotten cars from all over Germany if the offer was right.
Hope you applied for the subsidy before ordering the wallbox?! ;)

Monthly VAT advance return via Elster etc. seems relatively simple. Still, here is the question: does anyone have a link or a guide or a homepage where the whole topic is explained in an understandable way for amateurs?

First of all, it is very likely that you only have to submit the advance return quarterly (for one year, then annually).
For the technical part, google search for umsatzsteuervoranmeldung photovoltaik elster. You will find guides, templates, videos, etc.
Apart from that, you only enter a few data at the beginning. Afterwards, you automatically take over the data from the previous advance return each time (which does not change quarterly anyway).

Since I would like to operate heating as well as household appliances with the photovoltaic system in the best case, the photovoltaic seller recommended a "Power to Heat" circuit. Does anyone have experience with this and can give me tips? The electrician who will soon install the system advised against it and wanted to cover only household electricity with the photovoltaic system. What is better?

I only know that such possibilities exist. But I never dealt with it because it is complicated and possibly expensive. Is it worth it? In winter, you hardly have any sun anyway and need electricity for heating. Probably (very probably) the normal electricity consumption of the household is often enough to utilize the entire electricity from the photovoltaic system.

Does anyone have experience how well charging an electric car works via the photovoltaic system?

Works very well – as long as the sun is shining. In full sunlight, almost all my electricity from the photovoltaic system goes into the car. However, I drive a hybrid; 1.5 hours with 7.2 kWh charging power are always enough.
The electric car itself is of course a completely different question. I think it’s great for the property, if only the range were greater (I drive partially 40,000 km per year).

I could imagine leasing an electric car.

Anything else is nonsense. The technology you get today was already outdated in 2022. I see an electric car comparable to a TV, computer, or cellphone. After a short time, it is outdated with a low residual value. And the leasing rates are amazing.

Ok. That means that online offers should not be immediately dismissed as unreliable. I always prefer to buy on site, or in this case to lease, because the contact person is nearby. I will show him a comparison offer that is up to 80/month cheaper. Although they should also know that people compare prices...

This is usually just a regular dealer behind it. There is nothing unreliable about that. But I have the feeling that especially towards private customers, the local dealer often makes downright outrageous offers.