Evaluation of a VIPV-Based Solar-Assisted Charging System with Multi-MPPT Control and Shingled PV Panels for Electric Urban Delivery Motorcycles

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Aksoy A. H., Özsezen A. N., Özden T.

International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology, cilt.10, sa.2, ss.427-436, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

This study presents the systematic design, multi-surface integration, and experimental validation of a Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) system tailored for an electric urban delivery motorcycle. To maximize power density within highly constrained vehicular surface areas, a high-density shingled cell architecture was developed to elevate string voltage and optimize conversion efficiency. Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) was used as a lightweight front-sheet material, providing more stable efficiency yields compared to standard Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)-coated alternatives under fluctuating environmental conditions. To mitigate severe mismatch losses caused by the multi-oriented geometry of the courier delivery box, a multi-channel Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) architecture was commissioned to independently manage heterogeneous irradiance profiles. Real-world outdoor testing conducted in Ankara, Türkiye, over a cumulative active test duration of 40,980 seconds (~11.4 hours), demonstrated a cumulative energy harvest of 364.9 Wh. This solar gain successfully yielded a 20.3% increase in the battery State-of-Charge (SoC) and provided an additional grid-independent driving range of approximately 14.2 km. Despite efficiency fluctuations induced by dynamic urban shading, the integration of flexible shingled PV panels with a tailored power electronics topology represents a promising approach to enhance the sustainability and range autonomy of lightweight electric mobility.