Solar-generated electricity has recently become the cheapest source of electricity in most parts of the world. The technology of integrated photovoltaics on vehicles, referred to by the acronym VIPV, is benefiting from this development and attracting the interest of many electric vehicle manufacturers because of the potential it offers to increase their vehicles’ range. Vehicles with VIPV technology can, in addition, be a source of power for the grid, i.e., make optionally available two-way charging technology, a solution that could be useful for the medium-term future of “smart grids”.

However, VIPV technology is not yet mature for massive industrial penetration. Several technological challenges need to be addressed, the most important of which are identifying the most suitable PV technology for VIPV application and reducing energy losses due to DC/DC converter inefficiency. As part of the three-year project, RSE aims to contribute to the development of VIPV, both by optimizing already available solutions and by developing original solutions.

In order to identify the most suitable PV technology for VIPV, RSE aims to compare, specifically, MJ and silicon cell-based technologies that have the highest efficiency values. To limit the energy losses induced by the strong dynamics of partial shading and solar irradiance, RSE also proposes to develop a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm, optimized for VIPV technology, to be implemented in the firmware of the DC/DC converter.

In the present line of activity, RSE has initiated some preparatory activities for the experimental activities that will be carried out in the following years. The research activity is introduced starting with a description of everything known so far on VIPV technology with a “focus” on both PV devices and MPPT algorithms. The electrical layouts of the silicon and multi-junction cell modules to be tested are then defined.

Finally, in order to measure the I-V curves of PV modules and to evaluate their fast dynamics, the principle scheme of the experimental apparatus to be built “ad hoc” is presented, in order to acquire in millisecond time scales the electrical variables of interest together with the incident radiation data on the VIPV vehicle.