Researchers from Germany and the Netherlands have demonstrated that integrating photovoltaic (PV) modules into light commercial electric vehicles (EVs) can increase driving range by up to 30%. Their findings, based on a four-month study, were recently published in Progress in Photovoltaics.
The research involved mounting PV panels on a StreetScooter Work L EV and analyzing its energy performance during daily commutes between Hannover and the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH). The system included 2,180 W of M2 wafer silicon PV modules, with panels placed on the roof (875 W), rear (215 W), and sides (545 W each). The PV system was connected to a low-voltage (LV) battery and a DC-DC converter, which supplied power to the high-voltage (HV) vehicle traction battery.
Over the study period, PV panels generated 530 km worth of electricity, covering 30% of the vehicle’s total 1,750 km travel distance. The overall system efficiency—accounting for conversion losses, battery charging/discharging, and auxiliary consumption—was measured at 60.44% (ISFH parking), 65.05% (home parking), and 66.26% (driving phase).
During the driving phase, PV modules achieved an 18.01% conversion efficiency, producing 9.8 kWh of electricity. After energy conversion losses, 5.5 kWh was successfully transferred to the HV battery, further enhancing the vehicle’s driving range.
Researchers emphasized that PV-powered EVs could significantly reduce dependence on grid charging, making them a more sustainable option for urban mobility.
