While Tesla may be the most recognizable brand name in the realm of electric cars, one of the much less talked about aspects of Tesla's Master Plan is the company's efforts on the solar front. Are Tesla's solar panels as good a deal as their cars? Let's find out.

This article comes to us courtesy of EVANNEX (which also makes aftermarket Tesla accessories). Authored by Denis Gurskiy. The opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily our own at InsideEVs.

Source: Tesla

Solar panels could be one of the best energy decisions that one can make. If you truly want to commit to a fully sustainable and clean way of living, solar panels are a no-brainer — it's no wonder why Elon Musk expanded Tesla into the solar and energy storage market. In Musk's perfect world, electric cars would be able to get their energy from the sun (or other renewable energy sources) and never have to rely on the existing electric grid.

And, by coupling solar with a Powerwall that stores your surplus energy, you'll be able to use your energy in times when your solar panels aren't able to capture direct sunlight, such as at night.

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Source: Tesla

Tesla's solar panels are made in partnership with Panasonic in Tesla's Gigafactory 2 located in Buffalo, New York. These solar panels are given a black tint in order to make them more appealing to the eye when compared to the brighter, more traditional styled panels found in older iterations. Not only do these panels look good, they're some of the most effective on the market — holding an efficiency rating of 21.76%.

First and foremost, let's take a look at pricing. Pricing is something that's going to depend on where you live and any possible rebates that may apply to solar panel installation. For the time being, there is a 30% federal tax credit that applies to solar systems, and it will last until December 31st, 2019, before being cut. The rate cut will follow the schedule below:

Source: Tesla

Along with the federal rebate, you may be offered rebates by your state as well. Some of these state incentives and rebates can be found on Tesla's support page. A quick Google search of "[state] solar panel incentives" should also yield some relevant information.

Because pricing is different on a state-by-state basis, we've chosen the top five states that produce the most solar energy to illustrate price comparisons. The states include California, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, and Texas.

Currently, Tesla offers its solar panels in three sizes: Small (3.8 kW), Medium (7.6 kW), and Large (11.4 kW). They offer a basic size guide to help any curious customers better understand exactly what type and size will work best for them.

Source: Tesla

Before we go any further, it's important to note that 1 kW is equivalent to 1,000 watts, so if a solar system costs $1/watt, the above 7.6 kW system will cost $7,600. Data for the average price of solar panels was taken from EnergySage, and it's worth pointing out that all prices listed do, in fact, include the 30% federal tax credit.

Source: EVBite via EnergySage / Tesla

As you can see, for each one of these states, Tesla falls in the lower portion of the range and, in some cases, actually ranks below the lower average.

So how long should you expect for solar to pay for itself? While the answer to that question is highly dependent on where you live, it will typically take longer for those living in the northern states to pay off their investment when compared to those living in the more sunny states.

Source: Tesla

As an example to illustrate how long it will take to reap the benefits of a solar panel, let's use Colorado. Currently, Colorado charges an average of $0.1284 per kWh. A 7.6 kW system will cost $13,230 after the 30% rebate. Tesla states that this system will produce 25-32 kWh per day, which, at the current rate, is $3.21-$4.10 per day. If the rate stays constant, the system will pay for itself in roughly 8-12 years. This may sound like a long time, but these panels have a warranty that lasts 25 years, meaning that there will still be over a decade of use left in them.

What if you don't want to wait that long for your investment to pay off, or you don't want to be stuck with the large upfront cost? Well, Tesla has a pretty good deal available as long as you live in one of these six states and are a ratepayer of any of the following energy providers:

ARIZONA

Arizona Public Service Company (APS), Tucson Electric Power (TEP)

CALIFORNIA

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE), Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP)

CONNECTICUT

Eversource Energy, United Illuminating Company

MASSACHUSETTS

National Grid, Eversource Energy, Unitil

NEW JERSEY

PSE&G-New Jersey, Atlantic City Electric, Orange & Rockland, Jersey Central Power & Light (First Energy)

NEW MEXICO

PNM, El Paso Electric Company

If you're a customer in any of these areas, you're eligible to rent Tesla's solar panels for an incredibly cheap price. The only other cost aside from the monthly payment is a $1,500 fee for removing the panels if you decide to cancel the agreement. If you live in California, for instance, you could rent the Tesla Solar medium size array for just $130 a month. Tesla estimates that the system will capture $2,000-$2,800 worth of energy, meaning that you'll net $450-$1,200 worth of energy annually as long as you keep the system.

If you're eligible to participate in Net Energy Metering, you can receive credits from your energy company or even a payment for the surplus energy you produce. Put simply, you might actually make money with these solar panels installed, and this deal extends to those who eventually decide to purchase the panels as well.

Source: Tesla

So whether you decide to buy solar panels or you're lucky enough to live in a state where Tesla offers them for rent, deciding to go with Tesla solar is a pretty great decision.

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An earlier version of this article appeared on EVBite. EVBite is an electric vehicle specific news site dedicated to keeping consumers up-to-date on any developments in the ever-expanding EV landscape.