Development of Friction/Blended Braking Capability for an Electric Driveline Model for Multi-Scale Road-Cargo Simulations

Abstract: This thesis focuses on the critical development of friction and blended braking capabilities for an electric driveline model intended for multiscale road-cargo simulations. In the rapidly evolving landscape of transportation, electric driveline technology has emerged as a key player in achieving sustainability and efficiency goals. This study addresses the pivotal aspect of braking performance within this context, aiming to optimize energy utilization and enhance road safety. Using a systems engineering approach, MATLAB, and Simulink, the work in this thesis focused on the construction of a comprehensive model of a Volvo FH truck with friction/blended braking and an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). The model underwent rigorous validation against the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and subsequent simulation under NEDC, US06, WLTC3 driving cycles. The primary objective was to assess the impact of activating or deactivating the blended control system on the State of Charge (SOC) and energy consumption. Through iterative refinement, the model's energy consumption per kilometer closely approximated actual FH truck test values. Activating the blended control system consistently led to reduced energy consumption across all driving cycles, underscoring its potential to enhance sustainable and safe transportation solutions. Importantly, the ABS system functioned effectively throughout the simulations, ensuring vehicle safety, while the model maintained a consistent output speed aligned with the input speed. This abstract summarizes the research's focus, methodology, and key findings, highlighting the successful development and validation of a Volvo FH truck model with friction/blended braking and ABS systems. The results underscore the blended control system's capacity to improve energy efficiency, contributing to the pursuit of sustainable and efficient transportation solutions in the evolving landscape of electric driveline technology.