Virtual Booth

 With the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged
as a cleaner alternative to conventional petrol-powered vehicles, although their reliance on
external charging infrastructure remains a key limitation. This project presents the design,
simulation, and experimental validation of a flexible solar-powered electric vehicle charging
system aimed at improving onboard energy autonomy. The proposed system integrates flexible
Amorphous Silicon solar panels, a two-cell 7.4 V lithium-ion battery pack, ESP32
microcontroller, INA219 current sensors, relay-based charging control, and a 2.5-inch TFT LCD
for real-time monitoring of voltage, current, power, and state of charge (SOC). An automated
charging control logic was implemented, where charging is initiated when the battery SOC falls
below 40 % and terminated once the SOC reaches 100 %, ensuring safe and reliable battery
operation under both driving and parked conditions. MATLAB/Simulink and Proteus simulations
were used to analyse MPPT behaviour and system performance under varying solar irradiance,
followed by hardware testing in real outdoor environments. Experimental results showed stable
MPPT operation with charging currents typically ranging between -0.15 A and -0.18 A during
peak irradiance, reaching a maximum of approximately -0.21 A at midday before decreasing after
4:30 PM due to reduced solar availability. The battery voltage increased steadily from 6.251 V to
a peak of approximately 7.725 V during charging, followed by voltage relaxation once charging
ceased, while the SOC increase rapidly during high irradiance periods and stabilised at around 60
% in the late afternoon. The highest MPPT efficiency of 90.16 % was achieved at an irradiance
level of 1004 W/m2, demonstrating strong agreement between simulation and experimental
results. Overall, the findings demonstrate that integrating flexible solar panels on electric vehicle
roofs can serve as an effective supplementary energy source, providing tangible benefits such as
extended driving range, reduced reliance on external charging infrastructure, and enhanced
energy autonomy. This approach also holds broader implementation for promoting sustainable
transportation, lowering lifecycle carbon emissions, and supporting the development of smart,
energy-efficient urban mobility systems in real-world applications.