Energy harvesting potential for 3 EVs equipped with PV for the area of Graz in Austria

Vehicle-integrated photovoltaics present a plausible solution to address electric vehicle barriers of limited charging access and driving ranges. This work demonstrates a simulation tool that encompasses influencing factors on a vehicle's PV yield by comparing geographical areas, vehicle classes, vehicle surfaces, weather conditions, driving/parking cycles, shading scenarios, and electric configurations. The results quantify the increase in battery energy and vehicle mileage. Extensive simulations show the roof is the primary zone for PV integration, whereas the doors contribute greatly in winter. Using high-efficiency PV modules on the roof can supply over 20 % of monthly mileage from March to September. On average, 25 % of 1000 km monthly mileage can be covered with full-vehicle PV coverage. This drops to 16 % when excluding PV doors. This technology's success centers on lightweight vehicles with large surfaces and high-efficiency modules exceeding 20 %. Simulations show that a 10 % increase in efficiency reduces charging energy needs by 12–16 %.