Designing innovative solutions for solar‐powered electric mobility applications

Abstract

Designing with photovoltaics (PV) is the core focus of this paper which presents the results of a design study on conceptual PV applications for electric mobility systems. This is a relevant direction for new product development because PV technology can contribute to improved features of electric mobility systems not just in terms of CO 2 emissions reduction but also regarding product aesthetics and user experiences.Design studies are multidisciplinary by nature; therefore, in this case technical, user, regulatory and aesthetic aspects are covered. Eleven conceptual designs were developed in 2019 by means of a design project executed at the University of Twente, encompassing solutions for PV-powered charging of electric vehicles, vehicleintegrated PV products and other applications. The concepts focus on various modes of transport beyond passenger cars such as public transportation, electric bicycles and utility vehicles, in some cases applying alternative charging technologies such as battery swapping and induction charging in their design. In this paper four of these conceptual designs are presented as case studies, showing their multidisciplinary focus as well as parts of the design process behind their development. An evaluation of these conceptual designs revealed several design challenges that need to be addressed in their development, including the limited space available for integrating PV cells, the technical limitations posed by some of the proposed charging methods and the effective visual communication of the concept's intended function.

Power Management and Control of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Based on Photovoltaic, Fuel Cells, and Battery Energy Sources

“…Based on some research, the evaluation of the influence of the PV system weight on the vehicle was made, and a comparison regarding its influence is summarised in Table 5. It is shown that with the new PV system technique [56,57], the PV systems add more weight to the vehicle, which will slightly affect its performance. Consequently, it is possible to say that the benefit of this renewable energy source is assured.…”

“…Consequently, it is possible to say that the benefit of this renewable energy source is assured. Nevertheless, it is vital to demonstrate that the vehicle speed factor has a significant influence on the energetic performance, as is demonstrated in [57][58][59] and as is shown in Figure 12, which shows that in a deceleration mode, the PV cells will contribute 100% to the recharging action. Therefore, the percentage in this figure presents the rate of use of each charging system for each speed.…”

“…Figure 9a shows the PV system power for the various acceleration forms, as shown in Figure 7a. Based on new photovoltaic cell technologies [56,57], the PV can generate 9W as its maximum energy for the best irradiation factor.…”

A Literature Review of Emerging Research Needs for Micromobility—Integration through a Life Cycle Thinking Approach

“…Regarding the energy harvesting systems, it was found to be an emerging research need to seek more efficient piezoelectric systems to store more electricity, for example in a bicycle battery [117,118]. Likewise, recharging stations with solar panels could be evaluated with new shapes and designs as well as extendable surfaces [132]. Such could mean more expensive lifetime solutions, thus potentially compromising the cost-effectiveness of new micromobility solutions.…”

Designing innovative pv-powered applications for the urban environment: a design-driven multidisciplinary approach

“…System configuration of a passenger EV with PV cells integrated on the car roof and bonnet [36] The first combinations of solar energy and EVs date as far back as the early 1980s but these initial prototypes served as demonstration vehicles to generate research and public interest in solar-powered vehicles rather than as a transport solution for daily use [37]. It was only recently that automobile manufacturers started to consider this technology as a possible option for powering passenger cars, initially in the form of "solar roofs" for powering the vehicle's air conditioning or heating systems [38], [39].…”