Analysis of the Electrical Performance of an Original Solar-Powered, Pedal-Assisted Quadricycle With Physical Energy Expenditures Evaluation

In recent years, electric bicycles have emerged as a novel and sustainable mode of transport, offering individuals and groups alike an active and environmental-friendly way to get around. It is evident that active transportation has the potential to facilitate the achievement of other environmental objectives. These objectives include, but are not limited to congestion alleviation, reduced parking costs, and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. The present paper sets forth a novel electric quadricycle, equipped with integrated PV panels on the rooftop, which signifies a substantial advancement in sustainable transportation. The performance of this case study in discharging mode was examined for different boundary conditions, including types of routes, battery state of charge, daytime or nighttime operation, and rider weight. The routes were replicated using a cycle trainer that was capable of accurately reproducing the physical characteristics of the roads, including gradients, turns, and ascents. Notable differences in energy expenditure by the motors were observed, particularly when the state of charge was below 25-30% and for different riders and cycling styles. A numerical analysis was conducted in order to assess the physical energy expenditure of the users. The proposed methodology has the potential to be of significant value in future activities, as it will allow for the precise sizing of the solar-powered quadricycle for specific tourist routes, while also accounting for the contribution of photovoltaic (PV) panels.