Design of a PV based battery charger for a Solar assisted Electric Vehicle

The replacement of IC-engine-based vehicles with E-vehicles is not considered a sustainable transport solution because E-vehicles use electricity as fuel, which is generated by burning fossil fuels in power generation stations. With the ever-increasing energy crises and growing demand for sustainable transportation, solar-assisted E-vehicles have become a research focus for experts. Solar-assisted E-vehicles have solar panels mounted on the roof and use the energy from these panels to charge their batteries. Such vehicles do not solely rely on the grid to charge their batteries. One major drawback of this system is the lack of charging infrastructure and limited range. Therefore, optimal functioning of such vehicles requires a specific PV-based charger capable of charging the batteries in real-time conditions. This paper primarily discusses the development of a battery charger capable of extracting power from PV panels to charge the vehicle’s batteries for propulsion. The paper presents a comprehensive design methodology that includes the selection of appropriate components, such as solar panels, batteries, and electric motors, among others. It also introduces the standard SEPIC converter-based battery charger, equipped with an MPPT control algorithm. The effectiveness of the battery charger is also tested in scenarios involving shaded panels. The paper concludes that the proposed system can reduce dependency on the electric grid, thereby reducing carbon emissions while improving vehicle efficiency and decreasing operating costs. This proposed system is instrumental in achieving sustainable transportation and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.