With the widespread expansion of transport electrification, PV electricity and other renewable energy sources are needed to leverage the EV adoption into even more significant CO2 emissions reductions. Options for low-carbon charging of electric vehicles include charging from the existing grid network with PV or other sustainable electricity sources, charging from a dedicated charging point with local PV electricity generation, or directly and independently with on-board PV (PV-powered vehicle: VIPV).
In order to contribute to reducing the CO2 emissions of the transport sector and to enhance PV market expansions, Task 17 is aiming to clarify the potential of the utilisation of PV in transport and to propose how to proceed towards realising the concepts. Task 17’s scope includes various PV-powered vehicles such as passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy duty vehicles and other vehicles, as well as PV applications for electric systems and infrastructures, such as charging infrastructure with PV (PV-powered charging station: PVSC), battery and other power management systems.
Throughout 2024, Task 17 conducted intensive analyses on a variety of issues:
PV-powered passenger cars – Irradiance and temperature uniformity on vehicle roof
In order to outline the manufacturing stages on a vehicle roof, from cell selection to module assembly, and finally to assembly of the outdoor monitoring system, this work focused on the conceptualisation of an instrumented roof equipped with irradiance and temperature sensors. The various stages in the implementation of a measurement bench —design, installation, monitoring phase and data processing— were illustrated. These results were published as Task 17 technical report.
PV-powered heavy duty vehicles
Focusing on PV-powered heavy duty vehicles, energy flow analysis of truck/trailers and buses is implemented, and benefits of PV installation on board are discussed.
Demonstration research of PV-powered trucks driven by diesel fuel amd equipped with 300–500 W PV on their roofs has started in Japan. In this research, data like irradiation, PV electricity generation and fuel consumption are monitored. Moreover, preliminary research on PV-powered light commercial electric vehicles has started. In Australia, an irradiance survey regarding buses driven in Sydney is there, and the data obtained will be analysed precisely.
These results will be shared and referred for a Task 17 technical report.
PV-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Requirements, barriers, solutions and social acceptance
The microgrid optimises the power flows and the energy cost in accordance with the requirements of the public power grid and the end-user in order to increase the PV benefits. The main results and findings analysed were published in international journals and/or presented at several conferences. These results were published as Task 17’s 2nd technical report.
PV-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Modelling, sizing, optimisation and control studies
The proposed methodologies, tools and algorithms are able to determine the optimal capacity of the PVCS combined with an energy management algorithm over the project lifetime.
The studies related to the PVCS for e-buses highlight the characterisation of the current recharge and the impact analysis, the required design of the PVCS, and clarify the possible PV contribution.
The ongoing studies focus on EV solar charging by different approaches and case studies, on one hand, and, on the other hand, on PV-powered infrastructure business models.
The main results and findings analysed in 2023-2024 have been published in international journals and/or presented at several conferences. These results will be integrated and published as Task 17’s 3rd technical report in 2025.
VIPV and PVCS as Energy Sources in Disaster Zones
Possible advantages, requirements, barriers, supporting infrastructures, and policies on resilience to natural disasters utilising both PV and vehicles are discussed. Considering that the shape of resilience varies by country, case studies in different environments are essential. The range of the study is not limited to VIPV, but includes PV in transportation infrastructure, the general use of EV, and microgrids connected to transportation. Eventually optimal strategies for realising and enhancing resilience by PV and vehicles are analysed and discussed. These results will be shared and referred for a Task 17 technical report.
Several results discussed in 2024 will be published as technical reports.
Based on the results during 2022-2024, Task 17 is planning to move to the next stage.
Proposed focal topics will be as below:
Also, at the new stage, an interaction with Task 18 “Off-Grid and Edge-of-Grid Photovoltaic Systems” regarding a micro-grid PV application operated with PV charging stations for electrified vehicles will be promoted.
The main goal of Task 17 is to deploy PV usage in transport, which will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions of the sector and enhancing PV market expansions.
To reach this goal, the Task 17 has the following objectives:
The results of this task contribute to clarifying the potential for utilisation of PV in transport and they indicate how the concepts could be realised.
The scope of the task includes PV-powered vehicles such as PLDVs (passenger light duty vehicles), LCVs (light commercial vehicles), HDVs (heavy duty vehicles) and other vehicles, and PV applications for electric systems and infrastructures such as charging infrastructures with PV, battery and other power management systems.
The IEA PVPS Task 17’s Workplan addresses issues on PV-powered applications such as PV-powered vehicles, PV equipped electricity supply equipment and integrated electrical systems consisting of PV-powered vehicles including cars, trucks, etc., mainly from technical viewpoints, and also includes issues on expected benefits from users’ and stakeholders’ viewpoints, in addition to energy and environmental aspects. As a crosscutting issue, a roadmap for deployment of PV usage in transport and reducing CO2 emissions of the sector will be discussed.
The project requires the involvement of key players in the PV industry including experts from system/application design, the transport industry such as automobile companies, the storage and electrical system industry, energy service providers, researchers in these fields, and political and institutional experts connecting PV (renewable energy) and transport.
Subtask 1 will clarify expected/possible benefits and requirements for utilising PV-powered vehicles for driving and for auxiliary power.
Subtask 2 will discuss energy systems to design PV-powered infrastructures for EVs charge.
Subtask 3 will develop a roadmap for deployment of PV-powered vehicles and applications, as well as the resilience and the business model.
Subtask 4 will communicate with stakeholders such as PV industry, transport industry such as automobile industry, battery industry, and energy service provider, in many different ways ranging from workshops to papers and reports.
