Slip and tractive efficiency of an electric tractor with a 4WID E-axle system

This study aims to verify the performance of an electric tractor equipped with a four-wheel independent driving (4WID) electric axle (E-axle) system through simulation analysis using a MATLAB/Simulink model. The simulation model was validated through bench testing to ensure accuracy and reliability. Simulations were conducted while considering both travel speed and soil conditions to evaluate the slip and tractive efficiency of the electric tractor with the 4WID E-axle system. The results indicate that reducing travel speed decreases slip, which in turn improves tractive efficiency and enhances energy efficiency. The highest tractive efficiency was observed when slip was within the 10-20% range, indicating that this slip range corresponds to the optimal operating condition. The primary findings of this study identify the appropriate slip range and provide fundamental data for developing slip control algorithms for the 4WID E-axle system. Future research will focus on experimental validation and development of control algorithms based on the main results.