Integrated Solar and Regenerative Braking System for Off-Grid Charging of an Electric Motorcycle

Authors

• Christian Soolany, Mechanical Engineering Department, Nahdlatul Ulama Al Ghazali University, Jl. Kemerdekaan Barat 17th, Cilacap, Central Java, 53274, IndonesiaFollow
• Dhimas Oki Permata Aji, Mechanical Engineering Department, Nahdlatul Ulama Al Ghazali University, Jl. Kemerdekaan Barat 17th, Cilacap, Central Java, 53274, IndonesiaFollow
• Sigit Suwarto, Mechanical Engineering Department, Nahdlatul Ulama Al Ghazali University, Jl. Kemerdekaan Barat 17th, Cilacap, Central Java, 53274, IndonesiaFollow
• Setya Permana Sutisna, Agricultural Engineering Department, Jenderal Soedirman University, Jl. Dr. Soeparno 63rd, Purwokerto, Central Java, 53122, IndonesiaFollow
• Furqon Furqon, Agricultural Engineering Department, Jenderal Soedirman University, Jl. Dr. Soeparno 63rd, Purwokerto, Central Java, 53122, IndonesiaFollow

Abstract

This study introduces an off-grid charging system developed for a modified 110 cc electric motorcycle. The system incorporates a portable photovoltaic (PV) array and a regenerative braking feature, aimed at improving the motorcycle's energy efficiency. The setup includes a 72 V, 20 Ah lithium-ion battery, a 240 Wp portable PV array, and a 2 kW Brushless DC (BLDC) motor with regenerative braking to enhance the energy available on board. From the experiments, the vehicle demonstrated an average energy consumption of 44.9 Wh/km and achieved a range of about 32 km per charge. The PV system generated between 200 and 270 Wh per day, contributing roughly 14–19% to the state of charge, while regenerative braking recaptured around 1–2 Wh/km, which accounts for 2–5% of the energy used for propulsion. When combined, these energy sources are estimated to meet around 10–15% of the motorcycle’s daily energy demand, reducing its dependence on conventional grid charging and optimizing overall energy use. The findings confirm that integrating renewable energy sources and regenerative mechanisms into a lightweight electric motorcycle is not only technically viable but also offers a promising solution for improving energy reliability in regions with abundant sunlight but limited access to the electrical grid.

Publisher

State University of Malang (UM)

First Page

35

Last Page

47

Recommended Citation

Soolany, Christian; Aji, Dhimas Oki Permata; Suwarto, Sigit; Sutisna, Setya Permana; and Furqon, Furqon (2026) "Integrated Solar and Regenerative Braking System for Off-Grid Charging of an Electric Motorcycle," Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST): Vol. 10: No. 1, Article 3.
DOI: 10.17977/2580-0817.1187
Available at: https://citeus.um.ac.id/jmest/vol10/iss1/3