| Description |
Conventional vehicles (CVs), which use petroleum as the only source of energy, represent majority of the existing vehicles today. As shortage of petroleum is considered as one of the most critical world-wide issues, costly fuel becomes a major challenge for CV users. Moreover, gasoline vehicles emit green house gases (GHG), thus, making it harder to satisfy stringent environmental regulations.
Currently, the most promising and practical solution lies in practically available plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and future pure electric vehicles (EVs). EVs/PHEVs are equipped with sufficient on-board electric power, to support daily driving (an average of about 65 kilometres per day) in an all-electric mode, only using the energy stored in batteries, without consuming a drop of fuel.
An EV/PHEV can reduce fuel consumption by charging its battery from the utility grid. Keeping the future sustainable environment theme in mind, and the trend towards moving to green energy, this particular Capstone Project will focus on the prototype sizing and design of an appropriate PV panel and power electronic converter charging infrastructure, required for charging an EV/PHEV battery system, for operating in an all-electric mode daily driving for 65 kms.
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