Energy Harvesting Devices for Extending the Lifespan of Lithium-Polymer Batteries: Insights for Electric Vehicles

This study rigorously evaluated the integration of energy-harvesting systems within electric vehicles to prolong battery service life. A laboratory-scale system was configured utilizing a scale electric vehicle with a 12.6 V lithium-polymer (Li-Po) battery alongside an automated control platform to precisely estimate the real-time State of Charge (SoC) through monitoring of current, voltage, and temperature of the vehicle battery under three distinct driving conditions: (A) constant velocity at 30 km/h, (B) variable velocities exhibiting a sawtooth profile, and (C) random speed variations. Wind energy was harvested employing Savonius rotor microturbines, with assessments conducted on efficiency losses and drag coefficients to determine the net power yield for each operational profile, which was found to be marginally positive. Considering the energy consumption of electric vehicles based on 2017 U.S. EPA fuel economy data, the maximal recovered energy corresponded to 0.0833% of auxiliary system demand, while the minimal recovery was 0.0398%. These results substantiated the necessity for continued research into sustainable energy management frameworks for electric vehicles. They emphasized the critical importance of optimizing the incorporation of renewable energy technologies to mitigate the environmental ramifications of the transportation sector.