Battery Electric Vehicle Performance Analysis Under Varying Wind and Road Slope Conditions

Electric vehicles (EVs) are contributing to the advancement of green technologies and clean transportation, as well as offering significant environmental and economic benefits. Nevertheless, sizing the drive system and the suitable configuration is affected by a range of factors, including wind conditions and road slopes. This paper proposes the analysis of the combined effect of the road gradient and wind speed simultaneously instead of exploring the individual effect on EV performance. This study addresses this gap by investigating the performance of EVs across a spectrum of wind speeds from 0 to 20 m/s, representing calm to severe wind conditions, and road grades from 0° to 14°. A simulation-based approach is adopted, and the analysis evaluates key performance metrics over a standardised driving cycle, including battery state of charge and expected energy consumption through a wide range of case studies. The findings quantify the detrimental effect of higher wind speeds and steeper slopes on energy consumption and diminished vehicle range. These insights provide a foundation for optimizing EV design and enhancing operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to electric vehicles' broader adoption and effectiveness in diverse driving environments.