Project Proposal Assignment on Solar-powered Charging Network for Electric Vehicles
Question
Task: You are required to prepare a detailed project proposal assignment presenting a research proposal for “Solar-powered charging network for electric vehicles”.
Answer
Project Background and justification
Solar-powered networks are the source of renewable energy that acts as a sustainable source of electricity. The use of commercial solar panels is also increased day by day due to their energy-efficient and reduced electricity bills. The use of solar panels for household usage is also increased tremendously. The key usage of solar panels is for heat generation and electricity generation (Badea et al., 2019). Solar thermal is used for generating heat, and photovoltaic is used for generating electricity. The benefits of solar panels and solar power solutions are effective solutions to fulfill electricity needs. The solar-powered charging solution is a step towards sustainable development, which ensures reduction of carbon emission and reduction of GHG (greenhouse gas) emission. The demand for EVs or electric vehicles is increasing rapidly, and people are using EVs, which leads them to take an advanced step towards sustainability (Yao, Damiran, and Lim, 2017). The acceptance of electric vehicles is an advanced approach towards sustainability and helps to reduce the emissions of GHG and carbon. While using EVs, the most crucial factor is increasing the consumption of electricity to fulfill the needs of the fuel of EVs. The increasing consumption of electricity can increase the bills, and to fulfill the increasing needs for electricity for the EVs, a solar-powered charging network is a sustainable solution. Based on the solar-powered charging solution, the owners of the EVs can charge their vehicles at certain terminals or parking lots (Mohammadi, Nazri, and Saif, 2019). The rising usage of EVs also increases the demand of the electricity supply and meets the demand need; the solar-powered charging network is the best way to meet the demand.
However, currently, EVs owners face challenges due to the charging infrastructure, charging time, and lack of charging stations. In this critical condition, the most required thing is the supply of solar-powered charging networks at places where it is required the most.
Project aim
The project's key aim is to develop the planning framework for a solar-powered charging network that can fulfill the needs of electric vehicles. In the project context, the design of a sustainable and user-friendly solar power charging network is discussed.
Project Objectives
1. To analyze the existing needs for implementation of solar power charging stations and the existing models that provide similar support.
2. To reflect on the infrastructure needs that are required to develop such a network.
3. To develop the solar-powered charging network solution meeting the needs of electric vehicle owners.
Milestones and tasks
1. Evaluating the needs for a solar power charging network
a) The current demand for solar power for electric vehicle
b) Assessment of the gaps in the current support of the network
c) Analysis of the existing model that provides similar services
2. Reflect on the infrastructural needs to develop a strong network
a) Analysis of the key factors that are required to develop a strong network
b) Analysis of the key infrastructural needs to strengthen the network.
c) Integration of strategic operations with the development strategy of the network.
3. Development of the solar-powered charging network meeting the needs of electric vehicle owners.
a) Identification of the objectives of the network solution.
b) The development of the model is based on specific criteria.
c) Testing the effectiveness of the network solution.
d) Documentation of the solution.
Project Timeline
Experimental Strategy and approach
The aim of the project is to provide a sustainable source of electricity using solar-powered networks to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are largely categorized as passenger cars, bicycles, scooters, trucks, and buses. The electricity cost that is generated by solar energy carries less cost (Van der Kam et al., 2018). Based on the social, economic, and environmental impact of solar energy usage, it can be said that a project solution is a sustainable option for electric vehicle users to get the source of electricity from sustainable sources. The development and implementation of the solar-powered charging network will ensure that EV usersget an accessible and low-cost source of electricity for charging their EVs (Qi et al., 2017). The economic impact of the project implementation is it will reduce the electricity cost, and the environmental impact will be carried out by a reduction in carbon and GHG emission. The two things that need to be maintained in the context of the project solution are TOU or time of use and DMP or demand management price (Ericksonand Ma, 2021). The DMP is the criteria that keep the balance between the demand of the generated electricity by solar power and the supply of the electricity. The average required a battery for the regular users of EV is 15kWh. If the customer's demand is to fully charge the battery,, then the TOU needs to be requested, and if they have more than 40-50kWh battery,, then DMP can be requested. Thus, the demand and supply of electricity can be managed based on the needs of EV users.
Model formulation
The most common areas where the solar-powered network can be installed are the parking lots or areas with a high frequency of EV. The expansion of the solar-powered charging network can be managed by implementing the charging stations where it requires most. The support to the existing parking lots that do not have adequate infrastructure for solar-powered charging needs to be considered for better outcomes (Ericksonand Ma, 2021). The availability of the solar-powered charging network will be ensured by providing support to the parking stations that have more occurrences of EVs and needs a better and sustainable source of electricity.
Expected outcomes
1. The successful implementation of the project aims to provide sufficient availability of solar-powered charging for EVs.
2. Control the environmental impact of excessive usage of electricity generated by non-renewable resources.
3. Low cost of electricity for EV users.
4. Balance between the demand and supply of electricity for EV users.
5. Increase the source of electricity generated by solar energy and support the infrastructure of the parking stations.
References
Badea, G., Felseghi, R.A., Varlam, M., Filote, C., Culcer, M., Iliescu, M. and R?boac?, M.S., 2019. Design and simulation of romanian solar energy charging station for electric vehicles. Energies, 12(1), p.74.
Erickson, L. and Ma, S., 2021. Solar-Powered Charging Networks for Electric Vehicles. Energies, 14(4), p.966.
Mohammadi, F., Nazri, G.A. and Saif, M., 2019. A bidirectional power charging control strategy for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Sustainability, 11(16), p.4317.
Qi, F., Wen, F., Liu, X. and Salam, M., 2017. A residential energy hub model with a concentrating solar power plant and electric vehicles. Energies, 10(8), p.1159.
Van der Kam, M.J., Meelen, A.A.H., Van Sark, W.G.J.H.M. and Alkemade, F., 2018. Diffusion of solar photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles among Dutch consumers: Implications for the energy transition. Energy research & social science, 46, pp.68-85.
Yao, L., Damiran, Z. and Lim, W.H., 2017. Optimal charging and discharging scheduling for electric vehicles in a parking station with photovoltaic system and energy storage system. Energies, 10(4), p.550.
