Environmental concerns, high energy demand in the transport sector, and strong government regulations for 2017-2025 passenger cars and light trucks to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards [1] have led to increased focus on creating sustainable transportation technologies, not the least of which is the utilization of clean energy sources. U.S. Department of Energy, national labs, automotive OEMs, and academic researchers have been engaged in developing many solutions and models (e.g., ADVISOR model, PSAT, FASTSim, VISION, and GREET Model) to predict vehicle performance, emissions, and cost of alternative Powertrain technologies with different energy paths.All above-mentioned efforts have overlooked the investigation of solar energy as an auxiliary on-board fuel. Widespread use of solar energy-a free, sustainable, renewable, and clean energy source -in fuel-efficient automobiles can ensure energy independence for U.S. while minimizing environmental impacts. Solar PV remains a promising technology for managing the on-board power systems of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Technological advances in solar PVs have brought about efficiency improvements and cost reduction, and are expected to accelerate their inclusion in the automotive design process [2]-[4].
Although configurations exist for including on-board PVs in vehicles[5]- [9], current understanding on the efficacy of adding on-board PV technologies to internal combustion engines (ICE) for different vehicle sizes in different U.S locations under various driving scenarios remains incomplete. This paper is the first attempt at undertaking a comprehensive analysis of using solar energy on-board by means of PV technologies to enhance automotive fuel economies to meet CAFE standards though 2025 and extending driving ranges for ICE vehicles. In addition, in this paper we also estimate the economic
Impacts of Adding Photovoltaic Solar System On-Board to Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles Towards Meeting 2025 Fuel Economy CAFE StandardsMahmoud AbdelhamidUniversity of California, MercedImtiaz Haque, Srikanth Pilla, Zoran S. Filipi, and Rajendra SinghClemson University
ABSTRACTThe challenge of meeting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards of 2025 has led to major developments in the transportation sector, among which is the attempt to utilize clean energy sources. To date, use of solar energy as an auxiliary source of on-board fuel has not been extensively investigated. This paper is the first study at undertaking a comprehensive analysis of using solar energy on-board by means of photovoltaic (PV) technologies to enhance automotive fuel economies, extend driving ranges, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and ensure better economic value of internal combustion engine (ICE) -based vehicles to meet CAFE standards though 2025. This paper details and compares various aspects of hybrid solar electric vehicles with conventional ICE vehicles. Different driving locations, vehicle sizes, various driv...