Analysis of Lateral Stability Region for Lightweight Electric Vehicle Using Phase Plane Approach

Vehicle dynamics control systems play an important role in improving vehicle handling stability performance and passenger safety. Analysis of lateral stability region can further help to arouse the potential of the dynamics control system under critical maneuvers. This paper investigates lateral stability region for lightweight electric vehicle via phase plane approach. Based on the improved cubic formula tire derived from Pacejka model, the nonlinear vehicle dynamic analysis model is built and the particular state-space representation for vehicle phase plane analysis is developed. The lateral stability region is analysed using the band-shaped stability region related to two symmetric saddle points. And the influence of important factors such as road friction coefficient, steering wheel angle and vehicle velocity on the lateral stability of vehicle yaw motion is also discussed and presented, which may provide assist for vehicle dynamics control design.