Design of Solar Powered Grid for Application in Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of a sustainable, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station integrated with wireless power transfer (WPT) technology. The system utilizes a photovoltaic array configured for optimal energy harvesting, stored in a lithium-ion battery bank with an intelligent Battery Management System (BMS). A key innovation of this work is the integration of an ESP32-based control unit that enables \"amount-based charging,\" mimicking the operational logic of conventional fuel stations where users input a monetary amount, and the system automatically calculates and delivers the corresponding energy. The wireless power transfer is achieved using resonant inductive coupling, capable of delivering power with an efficiency of up to 86.8% at optimal alignment. Real-time monitoring of charging parameters, including voltage, current, and power consumption, is facilitated through a Wi-Fi-enabled web dashboard. Experimental results validate the system\'s ability to provide a seamless, cable-free charging experience while operating off-grid, thereby addressing the critical challenges of charging infrastructure accessibility and convenience in the EV ecosystem.

Introduction

The text presents a Solar-Powered Wireless EV Charging Station designed to address key challenges in the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs), such as limited charging infrastructure, reliance on fossil-fuel-based electricity, and the inconvenience of plug-in charging. Although EVs offer higher efficiency and zero tailpipe emissions, traditional charging systems still depend heavily on the conventional power grid and physical connectors. The proposed system integrates solar energy and Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) to provide a cleaner and more convenient EV charging solution.

The system uses solar photovoltaic (PV) panels as the primary energy source to reduce dependence on grid electricity and lower operational costs. Wireless charging is achieved through resonant inductive coupling, which allows energy transfer between transmitter and receiver coils without physical contact. This eliminates the need for cables, reducing wear and improving safety, particularly in harsh weather conditions.

At the core of the system is an ESP32 microcontroller, which manages monitoring, control, and communication. The system implements intelligent energy management algorithms to optimize charging based on available solar energy and the battery’s state of charge (SoC). An amount-based charging mechanism is also introduced, where users enter the amount they want to spend, and the system calculates the corresponding charging duration and energy delivery—similar to the operation of traditional fuel stations.

The system architecture consists of three main subsystems:

• Energy Harvesting and Storage: Solar panels generate electricity, which is regulated by an MPPT charge controller and stored in a Lithium-ion battery pack with a Battery Management System (BMS) to ensure continuous operation.

• Wireless Power Transfer Unit: Uses resonant inductive coupling between transmitter and receiver coils to transfer energy efficiently. Alignment between coils is ensured using IR sensors to maintain optimal power transfer.

• Control and Monitoring Unit: The ESP32 manages sensors, relays, and a boost converter while providing real-time monitoring of voltage, current, and energy usage via an IoT-based dashboard.

The hardware implementation includes solar panels, lithium-ion batteries, boost converters, sensors such as ACS712, and wireless charging coils. The software follows a state-machine control algorithm with operational states including idle, alignment check, charging, and completion. The system continuously measures energy delivery and stops charging when the target energy corresponding to the user’s payment is reached.

Conclusion

This paper presented the design and implementation of a holistic solar-powered wireless EV charging station. By integrating renewable energy generation with user-friendly wireless power transfer and IoT-based smart metering, the proposed system addresses the key barriers to EV adoption. The experimental results validate the feasibility of the concept, achieving a peak wireless transfer efficiency of 86.8% and highly accurate energy metering. The modular design allows for easy scalability, paving the way for future commercial deployment in smart cities and residential complexes. Future work will focus on implementing dynamic impedance matching to further improve efficiency under misalignment conditions and integrating grid-tie capability for hybrid operation.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Dr. V. Ramesh, T. Akshaya, P. Sivanajani, S. Jagadeesh Kumar, A. Hari Krishna. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.