Enhanced EV and ICE vehicle energy efficiency through drive cycle synchronisation of deferred auxiliary loads
by Guido Wäger; Thomas Bräunl; Jonathan Whale; Mark P. McHenry
International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles (IJEHV), Vol. 6, No. 3, 2014

Abstract: This research investigates energy efficiency improvements by synchronising auxiliary air-conditioning (AC) with the vehicle drive train on a real road driving cycle pattern. The research findings are applicable to electric vehicles (EVs), internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and hybrids. An EV-converted Ford Focus was configured to operate the AC compressor solely from kinetic energy recovered from the drive train when coasting or slowing down. Test drives with the Ford Focus with standard AC operation increased the energy consumption by 11.6% compared to AC off, yet when the vehicle was synchronised with the drive train the energy consumption increased by only 5.8% compared to AC off, an energy saving of 8.1 Wh km⁻¹. The configuration maintained comfortable cabin conditions (temperature and humidity) similar to driving with a standard AC system configuration. In vehicles with an interconnected automatic AC and engine management system data-bus, this efficiency improvement may require a software update only.

Online publication date: Tue, 11-Nov-2014

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