top of page
Search

MATLAB Implementation of Solar PV Grid Based EV Charging Station

As the world moves toward cleaner energy and electric mobility, integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has become a key focus area. In this blog post, we explore the MATLAB/Simulink-based simulation of a Solar PV Grid-Based EV Charging Station, highlighting its components, control logic, and how it maintains continuous EV charging even under fluctuating solar conditions.

🚦 System Architecture Overview

The model is divided into three main sectors:

  1. Power Sector – Comprises the solar PV array, EV battery system, and grid connection.

  2. Control Sector – Implements control strategies for the PV system, battery interface, and grid inverter.

  3. Measurement Sector – Tracks parameters like PV output, battery state of charge (SOC), DC bus voltage, and grid contribution.



☀️ Solar PV System Configuration

  • The PV array consists of 1 string with 8 panels, each rated at 250W, resulting in a total capacity of 2,000W.

  • The maximum power point voltage (Vmp) per panel is around 30.7V with a current (Imp) of 8.1A.

  • A boost converter is used to elevate the panel voltage (~245V) to the system’s DC bus level of 400V.

  • The design of the inductor (L) and capacitor (C) values is based on the power rating and voltage range.

🔋 EV Battery Configuration

  • The EV battery is rated at 240V, 48Ah, with an initial SOC of 50%.

  • A bidirectional converter links the battery to the 400V DC bus, allowing for both charging and discharging.

  • The converter is rated for a maximum power transfer of 2,000W and is designed to handle the voltage difference between the DC bus and the battery.



🎛️ MPPT Control Using Incremental Conductance

To maximize the extraction of power from the solar panels, the system uses Incremental Conductance MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking):

  • It continuously monitors changes in PV voltage and current.

  • Based on the delta of power and voltage, the duty cycle of the boost converter is adjusted.

  • This approach ensures optimal power output from the PV array even under variable irradiation and temperature conditions.

⚡ Bidirectional Converter Control

The converter linking the EV battery and DC bus uses voltage control:

  • The system aims to maintain the DC bus voltage at 400V.

  • A PI controller calculates the error between the actual and reference DC voltage.

  • The resulting duty cycle is used to generate pulses for the converter’s switching elements, ensuring steady battery charging.

🔌 Grid Inverter Control Strategy

When solar power is insufficient, the system draws energy from the single-phase grid via an inverter using a current control method:

  • The charging power requirement of the EV battery is compared with the available PV power.

  • Any power shortfall is supplied by the grid.

  • The inverter is synchronized to the grid using a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL), which generates sinusoidal reference waveforms (sine and cosine).

  • These signals are transformed into the d-q reference frame, processed through a PI controller, and converted back to AC using inverse Park transformation for final inverter control.

📊 System Measurements and Simulation

The simulation model includes measurement blocks for:

  • PV parameters – Voltage, current, and power

  • Battery metrics – SOC, voltage, current, and power

  • Grid interface – Grid voltage, current, and power

  • DC bus voltage

The simulation tests different irradiance levels (1,000 W/m², 500 W/m², 0 W/m²) to observe system behavior.

🔄 Dynamic Power Flow and Performance

As solar irradiance changes:

  • The PV power output fluctuates from 2,000W to 0W.

  • The grid compensates by supplying the deficit to ensure continuous EV battery charging.

  • For instance, when PV power is 2,000W, the grid supplies almost no power. When PV drops to 1,000W or 0W, the grid steps in to provide up to 2,900W.

The SOC of the battery increases linearly, indicating a steady charging profile, whether the source is PV, grid, or both.

✅ Conclusion

This MATLAB/Simulink model demonstrates how a solar PV grid-integrated EV charging station can effectively manage energy flow using intelligent control systems. Even with fluctuating solar input, the system ensures uninterrupted EV charging by dynamically balancing power between solar and the grid.

This kind of hybrid energy management system represents a scalable and sustainable solution for the future of green transportation.

bottom of page