Evaluation of the potential of solar photovoltaic panels installed on vehicle body including temperature effect on efficiency

The integration of photovoltaic panels on electric and hybrid vehicles is gaining interest, due to the exigencies of reducing carbon footprint of road transportation. In order to develop mathematical models for making cost-benefit analysis in designing a solar assisted electric or hybrid vehicle and to achieve real-time optimal management of energy flows, a reliable estimation of the useful energy from PV is needed. In this paper a model able to estimate temperature effects for PV panels installed on a car under real meteorological conditions is developed. Results showed that the parking phases are the most critical, where the increase in the photovoltaic panels temperature to a sensible reduction of their efficiency. Nonetheless, the energy produced by the panels can represent the majority of the energy spent in the urban use of a vehicle.