Assessment of Solar Irradiance and Photovoltaic for a Transport

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Assessment of Solar Irradiance and Photovoltaic for a Transport” is devoted to recent advances in the application of photovoltaics (PV).

Photovoltaic (PV) energy is widespread, helping to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions while electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more viable as a transportation alternative to conventional fossil fuel vehicles and, therefore, diminishing the direct carbon pollution.

The combination of PVs and vehicles (such as electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles) will be a key technology for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as previous studies have reported that approximately 70% of a vehicle can run exclusively by solar energy.

To model the energy generation of PV panels installed on the car body, a meaningful and scientifically accurate measure of solar irradiance must be defined. Definitions often used for conventional and static PV arrays are inadequate because solar irradiation on a car roof and the car body will differ from irradiation on conventional PV panels. In principle, traditional PV panels are installed to avoid shade and maximize the use of annual solar resources. However, PV panels installed on a car body are not oriented for the sake of maximizing available solar energy. Moreover, PV panels installed on the car body have a 3D curved surface.

Authors are invited to submit original contributions for review and possible publication. This Special Issue includes, but is not limited, the following topics: 

• PV technologies for EVs (car, buses, trucks, etc.);
• Theoretical analyses of solar irradiance on a 3D curved surface;
• Simulations of irradiance distribution on a 3D curved surface;
• Modeling of incident angle distribution on the vehicle;
• PV module for vehicles;
• Partial or moving shading effect on PV module mounted on a vehicle;
• Output prediction of 3D PV module;
• System demonstrations and field experience.

I hope you will contribute your high-quality research and I look forward to reading your valuable results.

Dr. Yasuyuki Ota
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• Photovoltaic sources

• transportation

• electric vehicle

• 3D-curved PV module

• incident angle distribution

• partial shading

• output prediction

• rating