Simulation model and road tests comparative results of a small urban electric vehicle

Electric vehicles (EVs), due to its lack of local gas emissions, silent driving and much higher efficiency than internal combustion engine vehicles, are fundamental for the world's sustainable mobility. In EVs projects, computer modeling and simulation can be used to reduce the expense and length of their design cycle by testing configurations and energy management strategies before starting the prototype construction. Accordingly, this paper presents the modeling and simulation of a small urban EV based on the conversion of an internal combustion engine vehicle in a fully EV, called VEIL. The ISEC electric vehicle VEIL project is shortly presented, along with the VEIL dynamic model. A real test circuit at ISEC campus is modeled and the results of simulation are compared with experimental results in order to validate the simulation model.

I. Introduction

THE energy supply problem, with economic, ecologic and geopolitical aspects, is at the heart of today's political and scientific agenda. In 2005, the transports sector accounted for 60.3% of world oil consumption, against 45.4% in 1973 [1][2]. This increasingly fuel consumption leads to forecast oil shortage and price rise, confirmed by the July 2008 crude oil spot prices, very close to US$150. Even if the present world economic crisis releases, for the moment, some of the price problem, there are also very important energy dependence and security concerns as the crude oil come mainly from middle east and/or instable countries.