Integration of Electric Vehicle

Charging and Solar Power

Why Solar Power

And
Electrical Vehicles?

Electric Vehicle Charging Technology

Number of Electric Vehicles in Use

For the purposes of our project, electric vehicle charging technology can be simplified to
three tiers based on their rates of charging. AC Level 1 Charging is the slowest, operating
at 120 V. This tier of charging requires 8 hours of charging to replenish approximately
40 miles of range. AC Level 2 Charging (240 V) is approximately 5-10 times faster
than AC Level 1, replenishing between 10 and 20 miles of range per hour of charge.
DC Fast Charging requires 480 V but is able to add between 50 and 70 miles of range
for every 20 minutes of charge.
Slowest

Fastest

AC Level 1
120 V 3.6 kW

AC Level 2
240 V 7.2 kW

DC Fast Charging
480 V 56 kW

Region of Solar Power Compatibility

The amount of power able to be generated is directly related to the surface area of the
solar panels. To supply enough power for one AC Level 2 charging station we would need
720 ft^2. For one DC Fast Charging station we would need 5600 ft^2 of solar panels.
For this reason lower level charging options such as AC Level 1 and 2 are much more
compatible with solar power usage.

Incidental charging. Retail,

restaurants, appointments
etc.
Short to medium length
stops.

The price of solar panels has been falling

consistently since 1985 and shows no sign
of stopping

Charging at airports, work,

parking garages, etc.
Long stop

Rapid recharge needed

while on duty.

Economics
DC

AC

250000

25,000

200000

20,000

150000

15,000

100000

10,000

50000

5,000

Electric vehicle use is increasing at an

exponential rate and is undoubtedly going
to be the future of vehicles in general

After all the charging technology, use cases, and economic

costs were compiled it became clear that the environment
most suited for a synthesis of solar power and electric
vehicle charging was the work place and other locations
where vehicles sit for long periods of time during the day.
The lower costs associated with installing and maintaining
a Level 2 charging infrastructure makes the concept more
attractive to a business owner, and allows the opportunity
for a profit to be made while providing a service.
Unfortunately it is also clear that it would be impossible
to make a full service public electric vehicle charging
station that is completely off the grid.

Fleet

Running out of fuel on

highway, need rapid
recharge.
Short stop.

30,000

Shift in Refueling Mindset

(Charge at Work and Home)

Use Case Tree

Private

300000

0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Solar Photovoltaic Power

*Color gradients correspond

to above charging rates

Eilaina Velan
Edward Zhong

Number of EV Charging Stations

Ethan Kingsley
Steven Terrana

Installed Solar Panel

Costs

$3.10/W
12-15% decrease in cost per year.
Solar panels can help mitigate
utility electricity usage, but cant
eliminate it.
Demand Rate
Demand rate is a pricing scheme for utility companies which varies the cost
of electricity based on the power demands a business requires. For example,
lets say Business A uses 360 kWh/day, but is only open for 8 hours. That
means they have a power demand of 45kW throughout their day. Now, lets
take Business B who uses the same 360 kWh/day, but are open 24 hours.
Their power demand is 15 kW. Cost calculations of this example using
Duquesne Lights rates can be seen below. It is now easy to see that the
demand rate costs between maintaining AC vs DC charging stations are
large, differing by around a factor of 10.
Flat Rate Charges (45 kW)
Distribution Charge - $54.00
Demand Charge - $83.70

Flat Rate Charges (15 kW)

Distribution Charge - $42.00
Demand Charge - $0

Energy Use Charges (360 kWh/Day) Energy Use Charges (360 kWh/Day)
360 x 30 x $0.009453 = $102.09
360 x 30 x $0.011159 = $120.52
Total Monthly Bill: $239.79

Total Monthly Bill: $162.52

Future Directions

Duquesne Light Demand Rate

Costs for <300kW Supply

DC Fast Charging: There may yet be a strategy to combine

solar power with DC Fast Charging, however it will certainly
cost more. One direction this team thought of is charging
batteries slowly through solar power, which the charging
station can discharge quickly.
Systems Requirements: A robust system would be needed to
manage the charging rates of 10 20 charging vehicles to
mitigate the load on the grid and minimize cost for the
owner.
Expanding the Business Plan: After the business plan for
installing solar panels and EV charging stations at private
businesses has been completed, the natural next step is to
expand to public businesses such as grocery stores and coffee
shops.