Electric Vehicle Modelling and Simulation of a Light Commercial Vehicle Using PMSM Propulsion

Abstract

Even though the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) used in conventional vehicles is one of the major causes of global warming and air pollution, the emission of toxic gases is also harmful to living organisms. Electric propulsion has been developed in modern electric vehicles to replace the ICE.The aim of this research is to use both the Simulink and Simscape toolboxes in MATLAB to model the dynamics of a light commercial vehicle powered by electric propulsion. This research focuses on a Volkswagen Crafter with a diesel propulsion engine manufactured in 2020. A rear-wheel driven electric powertrain based on a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor was designed to replace its front-wheel driven diesel engine in an urban environment at low average speeds.In this research, a Nissan Leaf battery with a nominal voltage of 360 V and a capacity of 24 kWh was modelled to serve as the energy source of the electric drivetrain. The New European Driving Cycle was used in this research to evaluate the electric propulsion. Another test input such as a speed ramp was also used to test the vehicle under different road conditions. A Proportional Integral controller was applied to control the speed of both the vehicle and synchronous motor. Different driving cycles were used to test the vehicle. The vehicle demonstrated a good tracking capability in each type of test. In addition, this research determined that the fuel economy of electric vehicles is approximately 19% better than that of conventional vehicles.