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@article{201588,
        author = {Kartiki Ravindra Thoke},
        title = {AERODYNAMIC OPTIMIZATION AND ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF CURVED VEHICLE-INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC (VIPV) SYSTEMS},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {12},
        pages = {4447-4449},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=201588},
        abstract = {Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV) have emerged as a promising strategy to extend the operational range of electric vehicles (EVs) by generating supplemental on-board power directly from sunlight. A persistent challenge in their adoption is the inherent incompatibility between conventional flat solar modules and the streamlined, contoured body surfaces of modern automobiles. This paper investigates how curved solar panel integration, made possible by flexible thin-film photovoltaic technologies, can resolve this conflict by simultaneously contributing to energy harvesting and maintaining the vehicle's aerodynamic integrity. The study presents a theoretical framework for quantifying irradiance capture across three-dimensional curved geometries, evaluates the structural limitations of candidate photovoltaic materials, and analyzes the net drag reduction achieved through body-conforming module placement. Findings confirm that although contoured surfaces introduce angular losses relative to a direct overhead sun position, the sustained reduction in aerodynamic drag coefficient substantially compensates for this shortfall—particularly during highway driving conditions where drag is the dominant energy loss mechanism.},
        keywords = {Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV), Curved Solar Panels, Aerodynamic Drag, Flexible Solar Cells, Electric Vehicles, Energy Self-Sufficiency.},
        month = {May},
        }