Experimental platform for PV generator characterization and MPPT algorithm simulation in vehicle integrated photovoltaic applications under real operating conditions

Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) systems offer a promising solution to improve the sustainability of modern transportation. The motion of the vehicle leads to continuous changes in orientation of the photovoltaic (PV) generator, as well as dynamically varying partial shading. Maximizing energy harvesting in VIPV systems requires dedicated Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms specifically designed to account for the dynamic variations of the PV generator's I-V curve under real conditions. This work presents the development of a comprehensive testing system for analysing the electrical behaviour of PV generators in VIPV applications and testing MPPT algorithms. A portable, high-speed I-V tracer was designed to acquire and store I-V curves of the onboard PV generator, along with irradiance and temperature measurements, every 0.5 s. The system has an autonomy of approximately 4 h, during which it can acquire up to 30000 I-V curves. The collected data is processed using two dedicated tools for statistical analysis and MPPT algorithm simulation and comparison. Preliminary measurement campaigns were carried out using a PV module mounted on the roof rack of an electric vehicle to validate both the hardware and software tools. A preliminary analysis shows that while the MPP voltage remains relatively stable, the MPP current shows rapid and significant changes due to dynamic irradiance. Three MPPT algorithms, Perturb & Observe, Constant Voltage, and a VIPV-specific method based on a patented technique, were simulated and compared. The VIPV-specific algorithm demonstrated a 2–8 % increase in harvested energy under dynamic conditions.