In this paper, driving strategy optimization for a track is proposed for an energy efficient battery electric vehicle dedicated to the Shell Eco-marathon. A measurement-based mathematical vehicle model was developed to simulate the behavior of the vehicle. The model contains complicated elements such as the vehicle’s cornering resistance and the efficiency field of the entire powertrain. The validation of the model was presented by using the collected telemetry data from the 2019 Shell Eco-marathon competition in London (UK). The evaluation of applicable powertrains was carried out before the driving strategy optimization. The optimal acceleration curve for each investigated powertrain was defined. Using the proper powertrain is a crucial part of energy efficiency, as the drive has the most significant energy demand among all components. Two tracks with different characteristics were analyzed to show the efficiency of the proposed optimization method. The optimization results are compared to the reference method from the literature. The results of this study provide an applicable vehicle modelling methodology with efficient optimization framework, which demonstrates 5.5% improvement in energy consumption compared to the reference optimization theory.

In this paper, a multi-objective optimization framework for electric motors and its validation is presented. This framework is suitable for the optimization of design variables of electric motors based on a predetermined driving strategy using MATLAB R2019b and Ansys Maxwell 2019 R3 software. The framework is capable of managing a wide range of objective functions due to its modular structure. The optimization can also be easily parallelized and enhanced with surrogate models to reduce the runtime. The framework is validated by manufacturing and measuring the optimized electric motor. The method’s applicability for solving electric motor design problems is demonstrated via the validation process. A test application is also presented, in which the operating points of a predetermined driving strategy provide the input for the optimization. The kriging surrogate model is used in the framework to reduce the runtime. The results of the optimization and the framework’s benefits and drawbacks are discussed through the provided examples, in addition to displaying the properly applicable design processes. The optimization framework provides a ready-to-use tool for optimizing electric motors based on the driving strategy for single- or multi-objective purposes. The applicability of the framework is demonstrated by optimizing the electric motor of a world recorder energy-efficient race vehicle. In this application, the optimization framework achieved a 2% improvement in energy consumption and a 9% increase in speed at a rated DC voltage, allowing the motor to operate at desired working points even with low battery voltage.

In this paper, determination of optimized regenerative braking-torque function and application in energy efficient driving strategies is presented. The study investigates a lightweight electric vehicle developed for the Shell Eco-Marathon. The measurement-based simulation model was implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink environment and used to establish the optimization. The optimization of braking-torque function was performed to maximize the recuperated energy. The determined braking-torque function was applied in a driving strategy optimization framework. The extended driving strategy optimization model is suitable for energy consumption minimization in a designated track. The driving strategy optimization was created for the TT Circuit Assen, where the 2022 Shell Eco-Marathon competition was hosted. The extended optimization resulted in a 2.97% improvement in energy consumption when compared to the result previously achieved, which shows the feasibility of the proposed methodology and optimization model.

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a Linear Time-Varying Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LTV-LQG) controller for an energy efficient electric vehicle, using a predetermined driving strategy as the reference trajectory. The proposed approach begins with the development of a structured nonlinear vehicle model based on relevant subsystems, enabling accurate energy consumption estimation with a deviation of less than 2% from experimental measurements. This model serves as the basis for computing a near-optimal driving trajectory. The nonlinear model is linearized along the predefined trajectory to support control design. A time-varying control structure is then developed, integrating a Kalman filter that estimates unmeasured external disturbances, such as wind, and enhances feedback performance. The proposed control strategy is evaluated through simulations and compared to a rule-based switching controller that replicates human-like driving behavior. The simulation results demonstrate that the LTV-LQG controller consistently satisfies the time constraints in both headwind- and tailwind-dominant scenarios, where the switching controller tends to exceed the time limit. Moreover, in tailwind-dominant cases, the LTV-LQG controller achieves lower energy consumption (up to 15.4%). The proposed framework represents a computationally efficient and practically feasible control solution for electric vehicles operating under realistic disturbance conditions.

This paper introduces a control-oriented Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) model of an energy-efficient electric vehicle, enhanced to account for wind-induced disturbances. The proposed model structure is designed to support model-based control strategies focused on minimizing energy consumption. In addition to core control inputs—such as torque reference and cornering radius—the model integrates a simulated representation of wind effects on the vehicle’s longitudinal dynamics. To manage the underlying nonlinearities of the vehicle dynamics, a trajectory-based linearization approach was employed to construct the baseline LPV model without wind effects. The accuracy of the extended model was validated using real-world speed profile data. Owing to its modular and control-compatible design, the model provides a solid foundation for testing and developing energy-saving control strategies, making it especially applicable to the design and operation of energy-efficient electric vehicles. The proposed model holds significant potential for further reducing energy consumption, particularly in urban transportation scenarios.

In this paper, the driving strategy simulations for a single-seat, lightweight, energy-efficient experimental electric vehicle are introduced. The vehicle’s operation is simulated using a developed measurement-based vehicle model in the simulation environment. The optimization was performed for the UniTrack platform at the ZalaZone proving ground using the algorithms Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA), with different optimization settings corresponding to varying iterations and initial population/swarm sizes. A 2.95% difference was observed between the least effective and the best PSO results, where both the number of iterations and swarm size were doubled. This demonstrates the effectiveness of PSO in solving the presented driving strategy problem, even when using fewer iterations and a smaller swarm size.