Design and Development of a Solar-Assisted Electric Vehicle Charging Canopy with Real-T...

Objective: To engineer and validate a solar-powered EV charging canopy prototype equipped with integrated monitoring for efficient, sustainable charging in public and institutional settings.

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption in India is hindered by insufficient, unreliable charging infrastructure and grid dependency, especially in urban public spaces, corporate campuses, and academic institutions. This affects EV users who face range anxiety and charging delays, as well as facility managers seeking sustainable energy solutions and lower operational costs.

This project proposes the design, fabrication, and testing of a solar-assisted EV charging canopy system. The solution integrates high-efficiency photovoltaic panels, a grid-tied inverter, battery storage for peak-shaving, and a smart monitoring system for live status, energy analytics, and fault detection. The approach includes site analysis, component selection, canopy structure design, system integration, IoT-based data acquisition, and field validation with actual EV charging sessions.

Key deliverables include: a working prototype canopy (bench-scale or outdoor), solar array and charge controller, EV charging point (Type-2/MENNEKES), microcontroller-based monitoring dashboard (using Arduino/ESP32 and IoT platforms), real-time data logging of solar generation and charging sessions, and comprehensive cost and performance analysis. Students demonstrate system operation, live monitoring, and safety features to examiners.

This project promotes green mobility by reducing grid load, lowering carbon emissions, and providing scalable, modular infrastructure for Indian cities and institutions. It offers industry-relevant experience in EV infrastructure, renewable integration, and smart energy management, with potential for commercial deployment and further R&D.