Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Energy Source Integration in Electric Vehicles: A Comparative Study of Battery, Solar PV, and Supercapacitor-Based Power Management

Abstract

The advancement of Electric Vehicles (EVs) requires efficient power management strategies to enhance range, efficiency, and component lifespan. This paper presents a comparative simulation study of different energy source configurations — Battery Only, Battery + Solar PV, and Battery + Solar PV + Supercapacitor — over an FTP-75 drive cycle using MATLAB/Simulink. The proposed hybrid architecture distributes energy demand among the battery, solar PV array, and supercapacitor through an optimized power management strategy. Simulation results demonstrate that the Battery+PV+SC configuration achieved a total energy demand of 100 kWh, supplied by the battery (50%), PV (30%), and SC (20%). Compared to the Battery Only configuration, the hybrid system improved range from 220 km to 245 km, increased average efficiency from 85% to 88%, and reduced peak battery current from 220 A to ~180 A. The supercapacitor effectively absorbed regenerative braking energy and supported high-power acceleration events, lowering battery stress and improving SOC sustainability. The findings confirm that renewable energy integration with high-power energy storage enhances EV operational performance, battery longevity, and sustainability.