Development of a Solar-Powered Wireless Power Transfer System for Electric Vehicle Charging

Abstract

The rapid growth of electric vehicles has created an increasing demand for efficient and sustainable charging technologies. Conventional plug-in charging methods require physical connectors, which may lead to safety concerns, cable wear, and limited charging convenience. Wireless power transfer technology has emerged as a promising solution for electric vehicle charging by enabling contactless energy transmission between the charging station and the vehicle. At the same time, integrating renewable energy sources such as solar power with wireless charging systems can further enhance sustainability and reduce dependence on conventional electrical grids. This paper presents the design and performance evaluation of a solar powered wireless charging system for electric vehicles. The proposed system utilizes a photovoltaic panel as the primary energy source, which converts solar radiation into electrical energy. The generated electrical power is regulated and supplied to a wireless power transmission unit consisting of a transmitter coil and a receiver coil. Energy is transferred through inductive coupling between the two coils and is then used to charge the electric vehicle battery through a power conditioning circuit. A prototype system was developed using a photovoltaic module, power regulation circuit, wireless transmitter and receiver coils, and a rechargeable battery unit. Experimental investigations were carried out to evaluate the performance of the system under different operating conditions, including variations in solar power availability and coil separation distance. The results show that the proposed system is capable of delivering stable wireless charging with reasonable efficiency for short transmission distances. The efficiency of power transfer decreases with increasing coil distance due to reduced magnetic coupling, while the solar output power varies depending on solar irradiance. The experimental results demonstrate that the integration of solar energy with wireless power transfer can provide an environmentally friendly and convenient charging solution for electric vehicles. The proposed system offers potential applications in smart parking infrastructure, autonomous charging stations, and a sustainable transportation system