Analytical study of electric vehicle handling dynamics
Handling characteristics of hypothetical electric vehicle configurations were studied by applying available analytical methods. Elementary linearized models were used in addition to a highly sophisticated vehicle dynamics computer simulation technique. Physical properties of specific EV's were defined for various battery and powertrain packaging approaches applied to a subcompact base car. The group of configurations considered gave a wide range of weight distribution and inertial properties which characterize a generic class of EV's. Computer simulations of structured maneuvers were performed for predicting handling qualities in the normal driving range and during various extreme conditions related to accident avoidance. Results consistently indicate that an EV with forward weight bias will possess handling qualities superior to a comparable EV that is rear-heavy or equally balanced; the handling differences become more pronounced as yaw moment of inertia is increased. Rear-heavy EV's were found to be particularly susceptible to excessive sideslip, long response times and undesirable phase lags. Results also demonstrate the importance of properly matching tires, suspension systems and brake system front/rear torque proportioning to a given EV configuration during the design stage. The methodology employed in this study can provide valuable guidance for developing electric (and other) vehicles which have satisfactory handling qualities.
- Research Organization:
- California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Jet Propulsion Lab. (JPL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- NAS-7-100-955312
- OSTI ID:
- 5896237
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/JPL/955312-T1; NASA-CR-162870, JPL-9950-297
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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