Built a hybrid EV prototype with dual-source power routing: photovoltaic input under sufficient light and automatic battery fallback when irradiance drops.
Project Overview
This build explored source arbitration between solar and battery rails to maximize runtime without manual switching. Solar generation supported drivetrain load and battery charging when available; low-light conditions triggered battery takeover to keep motor output continuous.
Power Switching Approach
Instead of full MPPT telemetry/control in this revision, I implemented a phototransistor-triggered switching circuit for automatic source handoff. The design prioritized reliable transitions and brownout avoidance during rapid irradiance changes.
What I Learned
Most engineering time went into drivetrain electronics: motor coil behavior, back-EMF at speed, startup transients, and capacitor sizing/placement for voltage stability. Debugging these interactions built a practical foundation in embedded power-system tuning.
Why It Still Matters
This project established core hardware systems intuition that I still apply to robotics and software-hardware integration work, especially around power budgeting and fail-safe behavior.