Model Predictive Control for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Platooning Using Slope Information

This paper presents a new model predictive control (MPC) system for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) platooning using slope information to improve fuel economy. The new features of this study are as follows. First, a system for HEV platooning has been developed considering varying drag coefficients and road gradients. Second, the general model of the aerodynamic drag coefficient of different vehicles in a platoon is developed. Third, simulations and analysis (under different parameters, i.e., road conditions, prediction horizon, vehicle state of charge, etc.) are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the method to achieve higher fuel efficiency. Fourth, the spacing between the vehicles in the platoon is designed in the objective function to ensure driving safety. The MPC problem is solved using a discrete numerical computation method: the continuation and generalized minimum residual method.