Design and construction of a solar powered dynamic wireless charging system for electric vehicles

Abstract The rapid increase in electric vehicles (EVs) as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel transportation has introduced new levels of energy demand and infrastructure needs. One of the major drawbacks of using conventional plug-in charging is that it takes too long to charge and requires frequent stops. This study examines the design of a prototype Solar-Powered Wireless Charging (SPWC) system, which charges electric vehicles while they are in motion, thereby increasing distances travelled and efficiency. The primary objective of this work was to develop a small-scale prototype of a solar-powered wireless charging system that can be tested, and to investigate how variations in coil separation affected the efficiency of wireless power transfer. The approach was to develop a resonant inductive coupling system with a 5 V DC input, incorporating a transmitter coil, a receiver coil, and an LC circuit loop using reactive components that would resonate. The prototype included a solar module to incorporate clean energy, and then coil separation was tested, with the air gap varied from 2 cm to 8 cm to examine various power transmission characteristics. Results highlighted a strong inverse relationship between air gap and power transfer efficiency, peaking at 2 cm with an efficiency of 41.3%, and 7.3% at an 8 cm air gap distance. The results obtained from this study demonstrate how magnetic coupling diminishes with an increased air gap, negatively impacting the efficiency of energy transfer. This research suggests factors that contribute to the success of an SPWC system, especially when the air gap is minimised, and renewable energy sources are utilised, such as solar energy, to promote sustainability.