EN 06 - Smart Hybrid E-bike Charging Station

The Smart Hybrid E-bike Charging Station is a self-sustaining, eco-friendly energy solution designed to charge electric bicycles using renewable energy sources specifically solar and wind power. It integrates photovoltaic panels and a compact wind turbine to generate electricity, supported by an energy storage system and an intelligent controller to manage power flow and charging operations efficiently.

The Smart Hybrid E-bike Charging Station utilizes the energy from four 10 W solar PV panels, an H-rotor Darrieus vertical axis, and a 12V battery to supply and charge a small E-bike with a 6V battery. The solar panels and wind turbine will generate power that will be sent to the charge controller, which will distribute the energy to either charge the 12V battery when it is not in use or to the E-bike when it is plugged in. Our design has 4 solar panels in different directions, allowing the system to gather solar irradiance from different angles as the sun moves during the day. We can also change the angles of the panels manually at an optimum angle (around 35°).

The charge controller regulates the voltage to 12V on the load side. We use the load side in a bus bar to supply energy to the Arduino and the E-bike. For the Arduino, we use a DC buck converter to drop the voltage down to 7V and power it on. With the Arduino, we use the current sensor INA219, a 16x4 LCD, and an RGB LED to signal the state of the E-bike’s battery.

The current sensor is used to monitor the charging rate of the E-bike, as the current lowers it means that the E-bike’s battery is charging. The LCD is used to show the battery percentage according to the testing data we used when the battery is empty and full. The LED shows the user the state of the battery: red when it’s charging and green when it's full. We use another buck converter to charge the E-bike, this one down to 7.65V. As the battery charges, the current sensor will measure the current flowing throughout time, then the Arduino will use that information to determine the percentage of the battery, and using the LCD and LED it can indicate to the user the state of the E-bike’s battery.

This station provides off-grid charging for e-bikes, making it ideal for urban parks, campuses, bike-sharing stations, or remote areas where access to traditional electricity may be limited or unavailable. 

This project was created to address the growing need for sustainable transportation infrastructure. As electric bicycles become more popular due to their low cost and environmental impact, the demand for clean, reliable, and decentralized charging options has increased. Traditional charging stations often rely on grid power, which may still depend on fossil fuels. By combining solar and wind energy, this hybrid solution ensures continuous energy generation, reduces carbon emissions, and supports green urban mobility. It also promotes awareness of renewable energy technologies and serves as a prototype for future smart city applications.