VEHICLE INTEGRATED PV : A CLEAN AND SECURE FUEL FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Photovoltaic (PV) technology has not been widely utilized as a source of energy for personal transportation. Several experimental projects have evaluated the use of PV integrated into parking structures to charge battery-powered, electric vehicles. Competitions featuring solar-powered vehicles have spawned futuristic looking vehicles propelled solely by electricity produced using vehicle integrated PV. This paper explores the use of vehicle integrated PV (VIPV) for a series hybrid vehicle configuration. Solar would serve as one of several fuel options available to the vehicle owner. This application represents a realistic, near-term possibility for the widespread use of PV as a source of energy for personal transportation.