Title: Longitudinal dynamics simulation of a solar electric vehicle for driving strategy optimisation

Authors: Aykut Ozgun Onol; Orhan Atabay; Arif Icke; Onur Serin

Addresses: Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34437, Turkey ' Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey ' Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey

Abstract: In this paper, a generic model of a solar electric vehicle is presented along with a long-distance race simulation. Electrical system including a solar array, a battery, and an electrical motor and the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle are modelled. The model is validated through test data. The race simulation is developed considering the specifications of the world solar challenge (WSC), a 3000 km-long solar car race held in Australia. This simulation provides an environment to test the design of the vehicle and determine an optimal race strategy maximising the performance. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis of race performance to vehicle mass and aerodynamic drag is carried out. Additionally, the impact of weather conditions on race performance is analysed.

Keywords: electric vehicles; vehicle dynamics; race simulation; vehicle speed optimisation; dynamic modelling; vehicle modelling; solar energy; solar power; solar powered vehicles; driving strategy optimisation; World Solar Challenge; WSC; vehicle design; race strategy; vehicle mass; aerodynamic drag; vehicle performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2017.082588

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2017 Vol.73 No.1/2/3, pp.136 - 156

Received: 04 Jul 2015
Accepted: 17 Jan 2016
Published online: 02 Mar 2017 *

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