Impact and recent approaches of high-efficiency solar cell modules for PV-powered vehicles
Masafumi Yamaguchi, Taizo Masuda, Kenji Araki, Yasuyuki Ota, Kensuke Nishioka
Abstract
Abstract Photovoltaic (PV)-powered vehicles are expected to play a critical role in a future carbon neutrality society because it has been reported that vehicle integrated PVs (VIPVs) have great ability to reduce CO 2 emission from the transport sector. The development of high-efficiency solar cell modules is very important for this end. In this paper, analytical results for the impact of high-efficiency solar cell modules on increases in electric vehicle (EV) driving distance, reducing CO 2 emission and saving charging cost of EV powered by PV are shown. The III–V triple-junction and Si tandem solar cell modules with an efficiency of more than 35% have the potential of the EV driving distance of more than 30 km d −1 on average and more than 50 km d −1 on a clear day. The effects of temperature, partial shading, curved surface, and color variation of solar cell modules upon output power of the VIPV are also briefly shown.