Expediting Hybrid Electric Wheel Loader Prototyping: Real-Time Dynamic Modeling and Power Management Through Advanced Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation

The paper addresses the critical need for a robust testing methodology to assess control performances of off-road vehicles with electrified powertrains due to the challenges posed by stringent emission regulations. The main contribution of this paper lies in the development of an innovative real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation platform tailored for a next-generation battery hybrid electric wheel loader proposed for John Deere. This platform integrates a unique vehicle power management (VPM) strategy, component-level controllers, and physics-based powertrain component models to simulate vehicle operations. Through this new HIL simulation platform, the paper demonstrates the potential for achieving an over 10% reduction in fuel consumption with the proposed next-generation battery hybrid electric wheel loader. The effectiveness of the platform is further validated through in-field testing, aligning the fuel efficiency capabilities and VPM strategy performance with the simulated results in the HIL environment.