Energy regeneration of a position sensorless BLDC-driven PV e-rickshaw with regenerative braking

This paper presents an innovative approach to recover braking energy of a Brushless Direct Current motor (BLDC) driving PV e-rickshaw. The work emphasizes a technique to capture braking energy of e-rickshaw produced during regenerative mode. The objective of this work is to eliminate the requirement for an additional converter to manage reverse power flow. A novel two-boost control method is implemented to three-phase voltage source inverter for bidirectional energy flow connected between battery and the BLDC motor. This two-boost method provides a dual role during braking mode; it facilitates energy transfer from the BLDC motor to the battery while also supplying the necessary braking force. In comparison with the conventional single-boost method, the proposed technique results in significantly more energy regeneration. Moreover, this work also implements a straightforward and effective position sensorless algorithm capable of driving the motor with improved efficiency. To validate the findings, a real-time testing on RT-LAB experimental setup has been used, which validates the results obtained through MATLAB/SIMULINK simulations. The outcomes of the study not only have relevance for the development of more energy efficient e-rickshaws but also contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation models.