Evaluation and Validation of Photovoltaic Potential Based on Time and Pathway of Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle

Abstract

This study evaluates and validates the power output potential of using the travel time and driving route of a photovoltaic (PV)-powered electric vehicle (EV). A scenario was constructed wherein a car with modules attached to four sides (roof, rear window, left door, and right door) drove on seventeen road sections with various inclinations and azimuths. The shadow effect of the surrounding terrain and buildings was considered to assess the PV potential. Consequently, it was possible to analyze the differences in the potential of the four modules in the same or two sections with different topographies. It was determined that the car could produce 0.0158 kWh for a single drive (approximately 10 min) and 221 kWh for one year (considering six hours a day). The potential of the roof module was the highest, followed by those of the rear and two doors. The potentials of the modules attached to the rear window and side doors were calculated to be approximately 42% and 27%, respectively, of the roof module potential. Furthermore, the possibility of enhancing the potential of future PV-powered EVs was discussed. The results obtained in this study can be used to develop power-output algorithms and navigation solutions for PV-powered EVs.