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: Hamid Samadi, Guido Ala, Antonino Imburgia, Silvia Licciardi, Pietro Romano, Fabio Viola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:World Electric Vehicle Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/4/190
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author Hamid Samadi
Guido Ala
Antonino Imburgia
Silvia Licciardi
Pietro Romano
Fabio Viola
author_facet Hamid Samadi
Guido Ala
Antonino Imburgia
Silvia Licciardi
Pietro Romano
Fabio Viola
author_sort Hamid Samadi
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj-art-7d67aaeecc734cce8404c0a9dfd1c9782025-08-20T02:25:04ZengMDPI AGWorld Electric Vehicle Journal2032-66532025-03-0116419010.3390/wevj16040190Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster ContextHamid Samadi0Guido Ala1Antonino Imburgia2Silvia Licciardi3Pietro Romano4Fabio Viola5Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyThis 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/4/190vehicle-integrated photovoltaicVIPVdisastermoveable energy sourcesambulance
spellingShingle Hamid Samadi
Guido Ala
Antonino Imburgia
Silvia Licciardi
Pietro Romano
Fabio Viola
Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster Context
World Electric Vehicle Journal
vehicle-integrated photovoltaic
VIPV
disaster
moveable energy sources
ambulance
title Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster Context
title_full Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster Context
title_fullStr Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster Context
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster Context
title_short Evaluating the Role of Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) Systems in a Disaster Context
title_sort evaluating the role of vehicle integrated photovoltaic vipv systems in a disaster context
topic vehicle-integrated photovoltaic
VIPV
disaster
moveable energy sources
ambulance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2032-6653/16/4/190
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