An Experimental Study on Performance Evaluation of Shading Matrix to Select Optimal Parking Space for Solar-Powered Electric Vehicles

Abstract

This study evaluated the applicability of a shading matrix generated using hemispherical fisheye images to select the optimal parking space to maximize the photovoltaic (PV) power generation of solar electric vehicles. The study aims to identify the maximum power point (MPP) of a PV module in a parking space using current–voltage measuring equipment to determine whether the shading matrix reflects any shadow phenomenon. The experiment was conducted on a parking lot at Daeyeon Campus. The fisheye images were taken in seven parking spaces. The shading matrices were generated by tracking the position of the sun over 12 months and 24 h periods. A 50 W PV module was installed on the roof of the vehicle and the MPP was measured in five experiments (9 a.m., 11 a.m., 13 p.m., 15 p.m., and 17 p.m.) in seven parking spaces. In parking spaces with a shading factor of 0, the PV modules were not shaded at all during the experiment, and the average MPPs were 34, 43, 37, and 21 W at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 13 p.m., and 15 p.m., respectively. The shading matrix calculated using the fisheye images accurately reflected the shadow phenomenon that decreases PV power generation.