Investigating the influential factors in real-world energy consumption of battery electric vehicles

Abstract

The transportation industry is undergoing a major shift towards electrification to mitigate carbon emissions and decrease reliance on fossil fuels in response to global climate change and greenhouse gas concerns. Recently, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have made significant progress and are becoming a more viable option for achieving zero-emission transportation. The aim of this study is to investigate the energy consumption patterns of BEVs operating in real-world driving scenarios encompassing various route conditions. The vehicle sensor data employed in this study was acquired through onboard diagnostic devices that directly gathered raw data and subsequently transmitted it to mobile applications. Various significant factors, such as payload, road slope level, speed range, acceleration, and loads of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, are considered as variables influencing energy consumption. By utilizing the large amount of data collected, machine learning (ML) techniques were applied to develop a predictive model of energy consumption and identify variables that influence energy consumption. The outcomes of this study hold the potential to offer guidance to transportation policymakers and furnish valuable insights for prospective buyers considering BEVs. Furthermore, the application of ML in the development of a predictive model demonstrated efficacy and exhibits promising potential for wider-ranging applications.