Analysis of speed limit and energy consumption in electric vehicles

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the mileage energy consumption for an electric passenger vehicle in terms of the introduction of numerous speed limits. Regulations concerning the limiting of vehicle speed to 30 km/h in cities or residential areas are particularly common. This restriction is intended to increase traffic safety, but at the same time introduces increased mileage fuel or energy consumption in electric drivetrain. Regardless of the energy carrier, any increase in energy causes negative effects for the environment. The analysis was focused on the mileage energy consumption of electric passenger cars for a constant speed under real traffic conditions. During the tests, the tested vehicles’ speed on a specially designated road section was changed gradually by 10 km/h, with simultaneous recording of the car’s traction parameters and mileage energy consumption. An analysis of the mileage energy consumption was then carried out for the assumed fleet of cars travelling one after another (in a so-called traffic jam), while maintaining a safe distance. This allowed for the calculation of the environment’s energy burden caused by a fleet of vehicles travelling on a given road section, indicating that a reduction in vehicle speed causes an increase in the vehicles’ energy consumption. Both total and mileage energy consumption of electric vehicles were analysed during the tests.