Solar PV-based EV charging station for urban mobility: A case study of the proposed BRT line N1 in the Maputo Metropolitan Area

Motivated by the need to mitigate climate change, reduce urban air pollution, and curb reliance on volatile fuel prices, this study investigates the integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems into electric bus (E-bus) charging infrastructure, for the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line N1, in the Maputo Metropolitan Area (MMA). The urban mobility pattern in Maputo is characterised by strong unidirectional flows and peak-hour demand, with inbound trips in the morning and outbound trips in the late afternoon. Accordingly, the operational schedule was defined within peak periods, with three round trips per bus adopted for simulation. The E-bus load profile was defined using a physical model, yielding an average specific energy consumption of 1.91 kWh/km. A solar resource assessment based on PVGIS-SARA2 data indicates an annual daily average global horizontal irradiation (GHI) of 5.0 kWh/m², peaking at 6.4 kWh/m² in February and dropping to 3.6 kWh/m² in June. The PV charging station was sized to meet daily demand and modelled as a grid-connected, zero-export, strict self-consumption system. Results demonstrate both the technical feasibility and scalability of this approach, providing strategies to manage simultaneous peaks in transport and energy demand, thereby contributing to sustainable urban mobility and supporting the energy transition.