Design and Simulation of a Small-scale Solar-Powered Charging System for Electric Vehicles with MPPT Optimization under Varying Conditions
Nzubechukwu Calistus Ezeagu *
Department of Electrical Engineering, Mewar University of Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India.
Narandra Kumar Ved
Department of Electrical Engineering, Mewar University of Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India.
Oyim Akachukwu David
Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti, Nigeria.
Azudiugwu Nnaemeka Joel
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Uli, Nigeria.
Ahmad Muhammad Bello
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria.
Eeman Sani Abdu
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Airforce Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The global shift towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) necessitates the development of efficient and sustainable charging infrastructures. This research explores the design and simulation of a small-scale solar-powered charging system for EVs, leveraging the capabilities of MATLAB. The proposed system aims to charge a 12V, 4.5Ah lithium-ion battery using a 20W solar panel, with a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controller to optimize power extraction under varying irradiance conditions. ''The system design models the solar panel's I-V characteristics using the Shockley diode equation, implementing an MPPT controller based on the Perturb & Observe (P&O) algorithm, employing a buck converter for voltage regulation, and utilizing a Battery Management System (BMS) for safe and efficient battery charging. Mathematical models for each component facilitate accurate simulation, and the system is implemented in MATLAB with subsystems for the solar panel, MPPT controller, DC-DC converter, and battery. Simulations conducted under various conditions, including ideal (1000 W/m² irradiance and 25°C temperature) and partially cloudy weather (400 W/m² irradiance), as well as different initial SOC (State of Charge) levels (20%, 50%, 80%), demonstrate the system's performance in terms of SOC progression, charging current, and power output. Simulation results indicate that the battery achieves 100% SOC under ideal conditions in approximately 2.84 hours, whereas under partially cloudy conditions, it only reaches around 70% SOC in 5 hours. These findings highlight the feasibility and efficiency of solar-powered EV charging systems, with the MPPT controller effectively optimizing power output to adapt to varying environmental conditions.
Keywords: Battery Management System (BMS), MATLAB simulation, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar-powered EV charging, Perturb & Observe (P&O) algorithm