Eco-Driving of Electric Vehicles: Objective and Subjective Evaluation of Passenger Comfort by a Dynamic Driving Simulator

This paper aims at developing an energy-saving driving strategy for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that effectively balances energy efficiency and passengers' comfort. Specifically, the study explores the implementation of the Pulse and Glide (PnG) driving strategy with the aim to exploit its potential in energy-saving while limiting the typical negative effects on passengers' comfort. A numerical model of a B-class BEV is developed and validated using open-access data. The model is employed to determine the optimal driving style for achieving minimum energy consumption during cruising at different speeds. Passengers' comfort is taken into account by limiting the maximum longitudinal jerk. A genetic algorithm (GA) is employed for the definition of the optimal throttle input. Results show that the PnG strategy can save up to 5% energy with respect to a constant speed (CS) strategy if passengers' comfort is disregarded. If comfort is also included in the optimisation process a reduction of about 1% of the energy saving is found. A subjective-objective comfort correlation is performed on the optimised driving strategies by using the DriSMi dynamic driving simulator at Politecnico di Milano. The numerical results of the optimisation process have been correlated to passengers' subjective comfort perception under realistic driving conditions. The proposed approach shows that without proper comfort constraints eco-driving strategies are not accepted by passengers. Also, the dynamic driving simulator is a viable way for a fast and reliable subjective evaluation of the perceived comfort.