PV-Assisted Energy Replenishment System and Its Human Machine Interface Solution for Electric Vehicle Mileage Anxiety

“Mileage anxiety” is the mental anxiety and psychological stress caused by users worrying that the energy reserves of the current vehicle are not enough to support them to reach their destination or complete their expected journey. This term mainly refers to electric vehicles (EVs). “Mileage anxiety” is also considered to be one of the main obstacles to the large-scale development of electric vehicles. Having fast and simple replenishment facility is a key factor in reducing mileage anxiety. Photovoltaic (PV) assisted energy replenishment systems can provide clean, convenient electricity for electric vehicles. In this research, an energy replenishment system with photovoltaic support was installed on the roof of a XPENG P7, and the energy replenishment status of the vehicle was measured while it was being driven in Beijing in 2020. In November 2020, when solar irradiation was at its weakest, monthly power generation was 26.456 kWh, increasing cruising range by 230.961 km. In April 2020, when solar irradiation was at its strongest, monthly power generation was 40.847 kWh, increasing cruising range by 356.594 km. The annual power generation in 2020 was 379.841 kWh, increasing cruising range by 3316.012 km. Even though the performance of the PV system decreases over time, the electricity generation in 10 years will be 363.232 kWh/year and the cruising range will extend 3171.015 km farther per year. Additionally, the dashboard interface is designed around the interaction process and interface of information such as EV battery state of charge, cruising range, vehicle–road coordination and PV-assisted energy replenishment system, which makes the information related to the EV's power management perceptible and controllable, thus effectively relieving the user's anxiety.