PV Solar-Powered Electric Vehicles for Inter-Campus Student Transport and Low CO 2 Emissions: A One-Year Case Study from the University of Cuenca, Ecuador

Danny Ochoa-Correa, Emilia Sempértegui-Moscoso, Edisson Villa-Ávila (), Paul Arévalo and Juan L. Espinoza
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Danny Ochoa-Correa: Department of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications (DEET), University of Cuenca, Balzay Campus, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
Emilia Sempértegui-Moscoso: Faculty of Engineering, University of Cuenca, Balzay Campus, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
Edisson Villa-Ávila: Department of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications (DEET), University of Cuenca, Balzay Campus, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
Paul Arévalo: Department of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications (DEET), University of Cuenca, Balzay Campus, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
Juan L. Espinoza: Department of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications (DEET), University of Cuenca, Balzay Campus, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-25

Abstract: This study evaluates a solar-powered electric mobility pilot implemented at the University of Cuenca (Ecuador), combining two electric vans with daytime charging from a 35 kWp PV microgrid. Real-world monitoring with SCADA covered one year of operation, including efficiency tests across urban, highway, and mountainous routes. Over the monitored period, the fleet completed 5256 km in 1384 trips with an average occupancy of approximately 87%. Energy use averaged 0.17 kWh/km, totaling 893.52 kWh, of which about 98.2% came directly from on-site PV generation; only 2.41% of the annual PV output was required for vehicle charging. This avoided 1310.52 kg of CO 2 emissions compared to conventional vehicles. Operating costs were reduced by institutional electricity tariffs (0.065 USD/kWh) and the absence of additional PV investment, with estimated savings of around USD 2432 per vehicle annually. Practical guidance from the pilot includes aligning fleet schedules with peak solar generation, ensuring access to slow daytime charging points, maintaining high occupancy through route management, and using basic monitoring to verify performance. These results confirm the technical feasibility, economic competitiveness, and replicability of solar-electric transport in institutional settings with suitable solar resources and infrastructure.

Keywords: electric vehicles; photovoltaic charging; sustainable mobility; CO 2 reduction; microgrid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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