Design of an ICT Platform for a Sustainable Charging of Light Electric Vehicles Using Renewable Resources

Abstract

Light electric vehicles (LEVs) are gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, particularly in urban areas. Electric bicycles, scooters, and mopeds are examples of LEVs. Several factors are driving the spread of LEVs, including environmental concerns, cost savings, and reduced congestion. LEV adoption is being aided by the advancement of battery technology and charging infrastructure, as well as government policies and incentives to encourage their use. However, there are some barriers to the widespread adoption of LEVs, such as safety concerns and the need for charging infrastructure improvements to support their use. This paper proposes the development of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform for making the charging of LEVs using renewable resources more sustainable. The proposed platform is designed to manage LEV charging via solar sources while taking into account factors such as weather, charging demand, and available energy storage capacity. A web application for charging station operators and a cloud-based server for data storage and processing constitute the platform. The platform is intended to be scalable and customizable in order to meet the different requirements of various LEV charging scenarios. The proposed solution was tested in a pilot installation as part of the MoSoRe project, which was funded by the region of Lombardy in Italy. The findings of this study show the feasibility and potential benefits of using ICT solutions to optimize the charging of LEVs using renewable resources, such as lower carbon emissions, increased energy efficiency, and improved sustainability.