Multi-input all-electric vehicle design using a forward simulation software approach

This paper describes the modular based system for the design and testing of electric vehicles with user defined physical inputs, which also include steering. The software tool used in the design of the package is the Matlab/Simulink environment. The focus on this package is the ability of the user to use rapid prototyping techniques to quickly and easily produce accurate results, and to have the option of quickly running further simulations with the minimum of effort. The package can be used across a range of depths in terms of using simplified equations to more technical models which also allow the definition of user defined incline slopes and steering commands. Thus allowing the detailed simulation under a variety of scenarios. The existing software package could also be used as a teaching aid in universities and its capabilities can be extended by simply incorporating more modules.