Vehicle simulation program: a tool to evaluate hybrid power management strategies based on an innovative iteration algorithm

In the framework of a PhD research programme [1] a vehicle simulation program is developed. It is a modular user-friendly interactive programme that allows the simulation of the behaviour of electric (battery, hybrid and fuel cell) as well as internal combustion (petrol, diesel, CNG, etc.) vehicles. The goal of the simulation program is to study power flows in drivetrains and corresponding component losses as well as to compare different drivetrain topologies. This comparison can be realized at the level of consumption (fuel and electricity) and emissions (CO2, HC, NOx, CO, particles, etc.) as well as at the level of performance (acceleration, range, maximum slope). The main modelling aspects and research 'trigger points', including its innovative iteration algorithm, will be highlighted in this paper.