Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster Context
This study focuses on Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) strategy adopted as an energy supply vector in disaster scenarios. As a matter of fact, energy supply may be a very critical issue in a disaster context, when grid networks may be damaged. Emergency vehicles, including ambulances and truck...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | World Electric Vehicle Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/4/190 |
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| Summary: | This study focuses on Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) strategy adopted as an energy supply vector in disaster scenarios. As a matter of fact, energy supply may be a very critical issue in a disaster context, when grid networks may be damaged. Emergency vehicles, including ambulances and trucks, as well as mobile units such as containers and operating rooms, can be equipped with photovoltaic modules and can serve as mobile emergency energy sources, supporting both vehicle operations and disaster relief efforts. A methodology was developed to estimate energy production under unpredictable disaster conditions, by adapting existing VIPV simulation approaches. Obtained results show that VIPV strategy, even under minimal daily energy generation, can be a useful aid for disaster resilience and emergency prompt response. Ambulance performance, analyzed for worst-case scenarios (e.g., December), shows that they can power medical devices for 1 to 15 h daily. Additionally, the ambulance can generate up to 2 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">M</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">W</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> annually, reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by up to 0.5 tons. In optimal configurations, mobile operating rooms can generate up to 120 times the daily energy demand for medical devices. |
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| ISSN: | 2032-6653 |