A techno-economic analysis of a 48 V mini shuttle electric vehicle with a solar-assisted system for a carbon-neutral green campus

Abstract This paper proposes the techno and economic analysis of a mini shuttle electric vehicle (EV) for public transportation in university campus utilization. The primary objectives are received energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. A 48 V mini shuttle EV system is composed of a lithium-ion NMC battery (51.8 V, 106 Ah), and a 4 kW AC motor with a controller. The integration of a 600 W solar panel is attached to the system to increase the distance of the operating range by around 60% from 29.78 kilometers to 47.92 kilometers per charge, as demonstrated by performance testing. A payback period of Solar 1.96 years, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 49.57%, and an 18.5% annual reduction in operational costs were all demonstrated by the economic analysis. The results show that solar-assisted EVs have the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs. The outcomes emphasize the potential of solar-powered EVs for cost-effective transportation within green campus environments.