Giorgia Burzachechi The study, conducted by the Polytechnic University of Madrid, proposes a model to optimize the charging of electric vehicles equipped with photovoltaic cells, analyzing direct, diffuse and reflected solar radiation, especially when the vehicles are parked near buildings.
@Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Recently, the use of photovoltaic panels in electric vehicles has gained much interest, and their ability to extend the range of electric vehicles has been studied by many over the past years. In practice, however, the use of photovoltaic panels has usually been limited by the small surface area of electric vehicles and the fluctuating conditions caused by the motion of the electric vehicle.
In this recent study, published by the Technical University of Madrid in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, researchers presented a model intended to simulate direct and diffused solar irradiation on photovoltaic panels integrated into electric vehicles with the aim of optimizing charging-even while vehicles are parked.
Difficulties with Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics
The unique challenges that VIPV faces are mainly the irregular shapes of vehicles, constant mobility, and obstacles provided by the environment-something that occurs especially in urban environments. All these may restrict the performance of VIPV. The main objective of this model is increasing the EV autonomy by adding PV cells to different vehicle surfaces.
In order to achieve feasibility with this technology, it will depend on using light-weight, resistant-to-operational-conditions, meeting safety, and aesthetic requirements-for the PV modules. These continually changing variables make modeling energy performance for VIPVs very complicated. In this regard, the researchers employed a tool harnessed from data availed through LiDAR. Light Detection and Ranging is a form of remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to measure ranges and find minute details of the surrounding environment. It has popular use in several robotic vacuum cleaners. Here, it performs a simulation of the performance of the PV modules in an advanced way by accounting for the effect of shading and diffused and reflected irradiation.
Studying reflections from nearby buildings
This model studies the reflections specifically from the nearby buildings. For demonstration of the practical use, the study uses the scenario of an EV being parked near office buildings. Since most of the time vehicles have their time spent at rest, they may get large amounts of reflected solar energy.
On top of the vehicle roof, a fisheye camera was installed that could capture high-quality hemispherical images. The researchers have also developed their sensor which can measure irradiation on five different vehicle surfaces: hood, roof, trunk, left door, and right door.
