Range extension for electric vehicles by optimal velocity planning considering different driver types

In recent years, stricter regulation of vehicle emissions, increasing fuel prices and government grants have lead to a rapidly growing interest in electrical mobility. However, potential customers are discouraged by the limited range of electric vehicles involving reduced flexibility. This paper presents a modern, real-time capable approach using road data obtained from an advanced navigation system to compute optimized velocity trajectories in order to increase the range of an electric vehicle. This eco-driving strategy can be imagined as an intelligent cruise controller utilizing information on legal speed limit and road topology. The potential for energy savings is estimated using characterizing longitudinal driving parameters derived from expectations on a system of three different driver types.