An analysis of a potential use of a photovoltaic (PV) system for an electric vehicle (EV) charging Free

Air pollution and greenhouse gas problems from the PM2.5 and CO₂ emissions, respectively from the internal combustion engine vehicles have been raising awareness of people around the world to change their vehicles to cleaner ones. The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is one of the promising vehicle technologies, claiming zero CO₂ emission from the vehicle. Nevertheless, in Thailand the electricity generation by the utility supplier is mainly based on fossil energy combustion, hence the CO₂ as the product of combustion is still released from the power plant. This paper aims to analyze the potential use of a photovoltaic (PV) system for electric vehicle (EV) charging. The study is based on statistical data and the forecasting method is applied. Four scenarios are analyzed. (A) A battery-electric vehicle is charged by the electricity supplied by the utility supplier in which the power generation mainly uses fossil energy. (B) A 7 kW PV stand-alone system is installed in a residential roof with 5 kW/ 20 kWh storage capacity and it is used to charge the 40 kWh battery electric vehicle. (C) The 7 kW PV on-grid system is installed in a residential roof, and it is used to sell the day-time electricity to the authority, while a homeowner uses the national grid for appliances and the BEV. (D) The electricity supplier invests in the PV utility-scale system to charge the BEV. The impacts on a vehicle owner, a utility supplier, and the global environment in terms of CO₂ emissions are discussed.