Design and Development of an Ultracapacitor-Based Power Equalization Network for Solar PV-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging System

Abstract

A solar photovoltaic (PV) system is a sustainable solution to the charging of electric vehicles (EV); nevertheless, it is prone to changes in irradiance and partial shading that lead to fluctuating output power and lower efficiency. Traditional methods use battery storage, making them more costly, complex and degradeable. This paper suggests a battery-free transient energy compensation DC power equalisation system with an ultracapacitor. A buck converter regulates the PV output and charges the ultracapacitor, and a boost converter regulates the voltage across the EV load. A controlled charging method will provide safe operation. The system is tested under different shading conditions, showing a better voltage stability and continuous EV charging than the conventional and battery-assisted systems. The findings affirm that ultracapacitors can be used as short-term energy storage in standalone solar EV chargers.