Ride comfort evaluations on electric vehicle conversion and improvement using Magnetorheological semi active suspension system

This paper presents the development of 7 degrees of freedom of ride model of a passenger vehicle to study the ride comfort performance of passenger vehicle if converted into an electric vehicle. The data of Malaysian made passenger vehicle were used in this study by assuming that the vehicle is going to be converted into an electric vehicle. The simulation results from the developed simulation model are validated with the experimental results. Ride test known as pitch mode tests were conducted to validate the reliability of the developed simulation model. The validated simulation model was used to evaluate the vehicle ride comfort performance when converted into an electric vehicle. The validated simulation model was also integrated with the semi active suspension system in order to improve the EV conversion ride comfort performance. It was found that the EV conversion's ride comfort was not significantly affected from the modifications and the used of semi active suspension system can be an alternatives in further improving EV conversion ride comfort.