Eco-Friendly Power Sources for Electric Vehicle Charging: A Hybrid Approach

Abstract:-Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a pathway to reduce tailpipe emissions, but their true environmental benefit depends on charging with clean energy. This thesis explores a hybrid approach for eco-friendly EV charging in India, combining renewable power sources (solar, wind, and biomass) with energy storage and smart controls. We begin by discussing the need for sustainable EV charging in the Indian context, where the grid is still ~70% coal-powered. A comprehensive literature survey reviews global and Indian experiences with renewable-based charging infrastructure, including solar-powered stations and innovative hybrids like biogas-fed generators. The problem is formulated in terms of reliability, cost, and environmental constraints for integrating intermittent renewables into EV charging networks. A hybrid system design is then proposed: solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines (WT) supply bulk energy, a biomass/biogas generator provides firm backup power, and battery storage buffers the variability. A smart energy management system coordinates these resources and the grid to meet dynamic EV charging demand. Simulation results for a case study (Pune, India) demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. Under realistic solar irradiance and EV load data, the hybrid system delivers a high renewable energy (RE) fraction (≥90%) for EV charging and significantly reduces grid dependency and CO2 emissions. For example, an optimal mix of a ~200kW solar array, a 50kW biogas generator, and battery storage (BS) can supply a busy Charging Station (CS) with levelized cost of energy around 12/kWh, which is competitive when considering environmental externalities.

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