Optimizing energy infrastructure of autonomous electric vehicles

Recently, Autonomous Electric Vehicles (AEVs) have attracted attention to the benefits they offer such as cleaner air, energy efficiency, and traffic/ parking decongestion. Smart AEV technology is poised to be a critical enabler in achieving these benefits. Currently, there is no viable and affordable electrification infrastructure for AEVs. We have developed and present here an optimization scheme that addresses the technological and economic aspects of the energy infrastructure of AEVs. The technological aspect involves a novel approach to employ emerging technologies and integrate esthetic solar-shingles to generate electrical energy with high capacity, fast charging lithium-ion energy storage batteries placed at strategically located charging stations. The economic aspect of the scheme introduces a new evaluation of the clean energy system projected Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Data analytics results have been simulated to evaluate the cost-competitive viability of such infrastructure. These indicate a positive trend on a key energy economic performance measure of LCOE and predicts that ‘grid parity’ could be achieved over a 60-year life cycle. Preliminary system dynamics simulation has demonstrated a viable competitive economic advantage for the proposed infrastructure assets over a 60-year life cycle. More data will be collected and analyzed for validation and statistical significance affirmation.