Electromobility with Photovoltaic Generation in an Andean City

Abstract

This research focuses on the measurement of the solar generation potential on the roads of the Andean city of Cuenca, Ecuador, and its application in electric vehicles. The tests were conducted in real environments, whereby natural and artificial structures obstruct direct radiation to the panel during the trajectory. An initial study is presented with daily operating conditions, using an urban bus route as a case study. The methodology used consists of taking measurements on different days and weather conditions to evaluate the photovoltaic generation and its contribution to the energy autonomy of the electric vehicle. Additionally, the energy autonomy between the electric vehicle with its factory configuration versus the one equipped with the solar panel is compared. For this purpose, a photovoltaic panel is installed on the roof of the vehicle, connected to a control system that monitors the radiation and current data, regulating the charging and discharging of the batteries. The aim is to demonstrate that the installation of solar panels on electric vehicles can significantly increase their energy autonomy. The contribution of this research could serve as an initial guide for governments and private companies to make decisions on the deployment of electric buses, electric vehicles and other vehicles integrated with solar photovoltaic energy, taking into account their routes. The findings of the study reveal that the implementation of the mobile charging system improves the range of the electric vehicle used in this study. In detail, an average increase of 40% in range was achieved in favorable environmental conditions and an increase of 14% in unfavorable environmental conditions. It is important to highlight that Cuenca has favorable conditions for solar systems due to its geographical location: altitude, hours of radiation and angle of incidence.

Public Transport Infrastructure with Electromobility Elements at the Smart City Level to Support Sustainability

“…The development of sustainable urban transportation is important to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions [7]. Therefore, electromobility is expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of transportation [8]. Electromobility refers to the use of electric cars as well as e-bikes, electric motorcycles, e-buses, and e-trucks.…”

“…Key Area Findings [7,8,10,16] Electromobility − Important to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions − Important role in shaping the future of transportation − Contributes to a reduction in harmful gas emissions − Important for the implementation of sustainable mobility and development policies − Helps increase the use of environmentally friendly forms of urban transport over individual transport [20,24,32] Smart city − Tend to invest in human and social capital, traditional and modern ICT infrastructures − Uses ICT to improve operational efficiency, share information with the public, provide higher quality government services and support citizen well-being − Improving the quality of citizens' lives using smart technologies and data analysis − Ride-sharing services are managed via the smart city infrastructure − Connecting all kinds of services and providing comprehensive solutions for citizens [31,33,35] Sustainability − The sustainability of public transport is a critical topic as cities and communities seek to address environmental, economic, and social challenges − Public transport systems play an important role in promoting sustainability − Public transport, when powered by electricity or alternative fuels, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to personal car usage − Efficient public transport will alleviate traffic congestion, which can lead to economic benefits due to reduced time lost in transport and increased productivity − Challenges include funding, infrastructure maintenance, as well as the integration of new technologies…”