Vehicle Power System Modeling and Integration in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulations

Abstract

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the development and launch of a large number of hybrid and electric vehicles on the world market, a trend that is expected to accelerate in the medium to long term. However, not all markets in the world follow this trend at the same speed, conventional vehicles based on conventional energy systems, as start–stop systems, are prevalent in emerging markets. In Brazil, a unique biofuel energy program using sugar cane ethanol as an alternative fuel for ICE (internal combustion engines) has been successful for over forty years, and it can be used together with hybrid technologies. The introduction of micro-hybrid technologies and strategies in conventional vehicles has a significant impact on power system management, and developing and analyzing new systems and strategies can be time-consuming and expensive. Hence, the development of new HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) test systems or new methods for existing HIL systems is critical. In this paper, a modeling technique is suggested to incorporate a vehicle’s energy system into current HIL systems for studying micro-hybrid technologies and evaluating new proposals. By analyzing the impact of various strategies on fuel efficiency and the energy balance of the electric system, this modeling technique can assist in enhancing vehicle system efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and lowering emissions.