Omnidirectional Battery Electric Vehicle for Use in Oil Palm Plantation

Abstract

Concerns on the low labour shortage and the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) generation prompted the industrial player to increase mechanisationduring operation and adopting low carbon footprint mobile platforms. In this paper, a design and analysis study was conducted and reported on a conceptual battery electric vehicle (BEV) for use in the oil palm plantations. With a maximum operating road speed of 30km/hr and harvesting load of 320kg, the BEV will require a minimum operational power of 44.5kW. In accommodating the soggy ground with the demand to navigate narrow and undulating terrains, the proposed BEV was designed to be equipped with an omnidirectional functionality with continuous track, without the use of conventional wheels. Major components arrangement and design for the omnidirectional mechanism are presented in this paper. This preliminary work will also serve as the foundation towards refining the BEV design, especially on the vehicle functionality and manoeuvrability in the plantation sites. Further recommendations are also outlined that will focus on validating the conceptual design and analysis on the total energy generation and consumption of the BEV.