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The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive investigation of the opportunities and applications of using solar panels in electrified vehicles. The use of photovoltaic (PV) panels as an auxiliary energy source of on-board fuel in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), full hybrid electric vehicles (FHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is investigated. The electrical architectures and the benefits of various possible applications are presented, such as active vehicle cabin ventilation, charging the low voltage battery, and charging the high voltage (HV) traction battery to extended driving ranges. In addition, the possibility of using PV panels to cool down the HV battery in extreme temperature environments is also investigated, supported by experimental tests used to properly model the thermal behavior of the HV battery and the effect of the cooling.

Integration of a new, complex technology which crosses powertrain system boundaries (and thereby involves multiple organizations), at the optimum cost-attribute balance, is a complex task. An example of such a technology is a Vapor-Compression Heat Pump (VCHP) system. A VCHP system uses a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to ‘pump’ heat from ambient into the cabin. This system can be used to supplement or replace other less efficient heating systems (e.g. engine, LV-PTC air heater, HV-PTC coolant heater, etc.) - which will improve fuel economy. The use of a heat pump system impacts several primary attributes, including heating, cooling, fuel economy, and electric range. These attributes must be balanced in an ideal fashion against the substantial expense, if a VCHP is to be selected for use in a particular vehicle. This paper walks through the value equation for the VCHP from start to end, addressing potential concerns and opportunities.