Analysis of the e-Pedal system functionality on electric vehicle autonomy

Abstract

The e-Pedal system is the first electronic pedal, born from the need to increase the range of electric and hybrid vehicles, focusing on the strategies to be adopted to recover the energy lost during the motion of the car, and introducing a new modality to interact with the vehicle, using a single pedal, which can act as both an accelerator and a brake.

For rapid acceleration, simply press the pedal fully, while gradually lifting the foot from it, a regenerative braking of increasing intensity (based on the new position of the pedal) is carried out until the vehicle is stopped. When the car is not moving and the driver does not apply any pressure to the throttle, a stationary system is automatically activated until it is pressed once again on the pedal. For example, if the vehicle can be reached along a road with a non-zero gradient, this system could keep the vehicle’s position stationary, up to a maximum gradient of 30%.

This system is particularly suitable for urban journeys where acceleration and stop cycles are very frequent, reducing the need to switch from one pedal to the other, and simplifying driving. The e-Pedal system works on the kinetic energy that the vehicle has, transforming it into electrical energy (during regenerative braking), through the use of the motor which is temporarily adopted as a generator (thus reversing its normal operation), thus avoiding dissipating the kinetic energy which, under normal conditions, and with a classic disc braking system, would transform the kinetic energy of the vehicle into heat, which would then be dispersed into the environment.

Objectives

Check the effectiveness of the Nissan single-pedal e-pedal system for acceleration and braking of the car.

Research methodology

Literature and state of the art. Creation of the simulation model and results analysis

Conclusions

The system seems to have a direct benefit on the state of charge of the batteries, although with a small increase. However, the impact is on the entire vehicle system, since wear on the braking system and micro-dust are reduced.

Future developments

Improving the simulation model by modeling the battery charge and discharge system in a more detailed way