Electric vehicles (EV) are the immediate solution to drastically reducing pollutant emissions from the transport sector. There is a continuing increase in the number of EVs in use, but their widespread and massive acceptance by automotive consumers is related to the performance they can deliver. The most important feature here (a hot topic at present in EV research) is related to the possibility of providing a more accurate prediction of range. Range prediction is a complex problem because it depends on a lot of influence factors (internal, external, constant, variables) and the present paper aims to investigate the effect of these factors on the range of EVs. The results and aspects of current worldwide research on this theme are presented through the analysis of the main classes of influence factors: Vehicle design, the driver and the environment. Further, the weight and effect of each potential factor which influences EV range was analyzed by presenting current issues. An exhaustive and comprehensive analysis has made it possible to identify future research and development directions in the EV research field, resulting in massive future and immediate EV penetration in the automotive market.

In the current context of transition from the powertrains of cars equipped with internal combustion engines to powertrains based on electricity, there is a need to intensify studies and research related to the command-and-control systems of electric vehicles. One of the important systems in the construction of an electric vehicle is the thermal management system of the battery with the role of optimizing the operation of the battery in terms of performance and life. The article aims to critically analyze the studies and research conducted so far related to the type, design and operating principles of battery thermal management systems (BTMSs) used in the construction of various shaped Li-ion batteries, with focus on cooling technologies. The advantages and disadvantages of the individual components, as well as of the proposed BTM solutions, are extensively investigated, with regard also to the adaptability of these systems to the different Li-ion battery shapes. The information thus synthesized provides the necessary and important information and proposes future directions in research to those interested in this topic to be used to increase the efficiency of the thermal management systems of the battery (and with it the global efficiency of the electric vehicle).

The battery thermal management system is one of the important systems of an electric vehicle with direct effects on its performance. In this regard, this paper proposes a mathematical model that increases the accuracy of data obtained by numerical analysis of the temperature inside battery packs. The activity of the design and development (as accurate as possible) of a battery pack leads to an increase in the life of the battery cells and of the energetic efficiency of the electric vehicle in the specific operating conditions of road traffic. The research methodology of the thermal phenomenon in the battery pack, presented by the authors, is based on an efficient co-simulation concept consisting of steady-state CFD simulations and transient 1D simulations using a new mathematical model for the thermal behavior of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) cylindrical battery and applied in a battery pack’s forced air cooling thermal management system. Comparing the obtained results, it was found that the use of the model provides more accurate calculations of the local thermal performance of the air cooling system, with a direct influence on optimizing its design and construction. It is also highlighted that using the proposed model for higher heat transfer coefficient values (increase in air flow), offers more accurate data compared to other models, with immediate benefits in the proper design and development of the battery’s thermal management system.

More than 50% of the energy released through combustion in the internal combustion engine (ICE) is rejected to the environment. Recovering only a part of this energy can significantly improve the overall use of resources and the economic efficiency of road transport. One solution to recoup a part of this otherwise wasted thermal energy is to use thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules for the conversion of heat directly into electricity. To aid in development of this technology, this effort covers the derivation of a respectively simple steady-state Simulink model that can be utilized to estimate and optimize TEG system performance for ICEs. The model was validated against experimental data found in literature utilizing water cooling for the cold side. Overall, relatively good agreement was found with the maximum error in generated power around 10%. Following, it was investigated whether air can be used as a cooling medium. It was established that, at the same temperature as the water (18.4 °C), a flow velocity of 13.1 m/s (or 47.2 km/h) is required to achieve a similar cold junction temperature and power output. Subsequently using the model with air cooling, the performance of a TEG installed on a heavy-duty vehicle traveling at 50, 80, 90, and 120 km/h under different ambient temperatures was analyzed. It was determined that both a lower temperature and a higher flow velocity can improve power output. A further increase of the power output requires a larger temperature gradient across the module, which can be achieved by a higher heat input on the hot side.