Impact of the Velocity Profile on Energy Consumption of Electric Vehicles

The driving range of electric vehicles is an important issue. The velocity profile can have an important impact on their energy consumption and thus their driving range. In this paper, a commercial electric vehicle is studied. The model of its traction subsystems is developed using a forward approach. A specific driving cycle generator is then coupled with this model. A feedback from the model to the generator allows for recalculation of the velocity reference in case of a limitation due to the electrical drives, for a more accurate estimation of energy consumption. Different trips are then studied with this method. The maximal velocity has a strong impact on the energy consumption while the maximal acceleration has a low impact.