Defining a vibration test profile for assessing the durability of electric motorcycle battery assemblies

Abstract

There has been little published research critically examining the vibration loading that battery assemblies within large sized electric two wheelers (ETWs) experience during their lifetime. Much of the existing research has been focused on assessing the battery packs of electric passenger vehicles, which have a different dynamic response to their two wheeled counterparts. Existing automotive procedures, therefore, cannot be applied to these modes of transport. It is important therefore that the magnitude and frequency of the vibration inputs that the ETW battery will be exposed to during the vehicle's life is understood.For the first time, this study describes a methodology to derive random power spectral density (PSD) profiles that are representative of 60,000 miles of UK customer electric motorcycle (EM) usage for a vehicle operating in the large traditional motorcycle class. The derived PSDs are suitable for testing frame mounted batteries for mechanical durability using modern shaker table facilities and are derived utilising vibration measurements from a contemporary EM (Harley Davidson Livewire). In addition, it compares the measurements from a current production EM to that of profiles derived from passenger electric vehicles (EVs) published within existing studies to highlight the key differences between vibration environments experienced by batteries within passenger EVs and EMs.