Relationship of customer needs to electric vehicle performance

This paper presents results of sensitivity analyses performed by exercising an electric vehicle model to understand relationship between customer based vehicle requirements (e.g. size, carrying capacity, weight, aerodynamics, 0-60 mph acceleration time, maximum velocity ) to electric vehicle characteristics (motor and battery specs.), energy consumption during different trips, and running costs for a trip. The electric vehicle model was developed by using available knowledge from mechanics, electrical powertrain and battery technologies. Velocity-distance trajectories of three trips (suburban, city commuter, and freeway) were measured and used as inputs to the model. The model was run under the combinations of the following variables and levels: a) vehicle weight: 2500 lbs small car and 4500 lbs midsize SUV, b) payload load: driver only and five occupants plus luggage, c) time for maximum acceleration from 0 to 60 mph: 4 sec, 7 sec and 10 sec, d) coefficient of drag (CD): 0.25 and 0.35, and e) trip purpose: suburban, city commuter, and freeway. The following model outputs were evaluated: 1) motor power (hp), 2) energy consumed per mile (KWh/mile), and 3) trip costs (cents/trip).