Electric cars and trucks

Objectives

1. Develop a methodology for improved parametric design and optimization of electrical (e-)
   powertrains for a range of applications from lightweight (LEVs, solar cars) to heavy transportation
   systems (e-trucks, e-buses).
2. Develop a methodology to optimally determine the synergy and business case of a smart-charging
   (solar) car, truck, or buses (depending on the chosen case study) in the energy transition.

Activities

1. Creating a modular electric powertrain simulation platform:
   a. Functional and component system analysis; integrated in a network of smart and sustainable
   energy producers (solar and wind) and (mobile and stationary) consumers of which the states
   change dynamically.
   b. Data collection (state-of-the-art components), (scalable) component and e-powertrain system
   model development (TU/e, Lightyear, TNO).
   c. Definition on the required design analysis responses, identifying coupled design variables
   between the sub-design problems – e-powertrain(s) with advanced energy management design
   interfacing new ultra-fast charging technology (linked to WP5 for heavy transport).
   d. Development of an advanced energy management based on parameter/state estimation, taking
   into account operation conditions (such as those presented by automation), as well as changing
   parameters during the ageing of the systems.
2. Creating new model-based system engineering tools (MBSE):
   a. Enabling design space exploration (e.g. automatic generation of new system architectures),
   flexible to change designer’s preferences (e.g. problem setup), objectives (e.g. energy, cost of
   ownership, transport efficiency) and components (technology, architectures).
   b. Allowing the reusability of models (control system, storage, transmission, conversion
   components) for different use cases as a shell around the modular simulation platform (from
   task 1).
   c. Allowing automated powertrain system design for (customer-)specific use cases in a fast and
   cost-effective manner (even for small series production): using commonality-in-design and
   other novel product design concepts based on studying the step moving from the classical
   design to a new process validation method in product design.
3. Determining the optimal synergy and business case of a smart charging (solar) car in the energy
   transition:
   a. Iteration on the shared variables (via the constraints, objectives) between the design problems
   at micro-grid (powertrain) and macro-grid level (energy producers/consumers).
   b. Cost benefit analyses enabling to estimate and predict break through opportunities (linked to
   WP10 in which aggregated results from this WP will be used) and estimate minimum component
   and system specifications.
4. Determining and analysing people’s preferences regarding electric vehicles (e.g. solar cars):
   Studying daily commuting behavior of people, the charging opportunities and in case of solar cars the
   stochastically prediction of seasonal (solar) weather conditions (geographically), acceptance and trust
   (social acceptance, linked to Task 1, WP5) in care free usage will be invested here.

Expected output

1. Modular electric powertrain simulation platform capturing the component characteristics, operation
   conditions of the powertrain systems with sufficient accuracy (M24).
2. New MBSE tools to quickly design optimized e-powertrain for small series production using novel
   product design methods (M48).
3. At least 16 journal publications (M12x4, 24×4, 36×4, 48×4) and 32 conference publications (M12x8,
   24×8, 36×8, 48×8) on describing new integrated system design methods and tools, new product
   design using process validation concepts, technical analysis of potential integration benefits, the
   business case and acceptance of LEVs, solar cars, e-buses and e-trucks are foreseen.