Minimum-energy driving speed profiles for low-speed electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EV) are rapidly invading the previous internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) market introducing not only environmental friendliness and a higher efficiency but a better ride quality, comfortness and performance. However, there still remain factors that the EV cannot reach the territory of ICEV such as a limited fully charged driving range per vehicle cost due to a low energy density of batteries compared with petroleum fuel. The ICEV has an up to 5 × longer driving range than that of EV as shown in Fig. 1. Common production EV shows only a quarter fully charged range of ICEV with a similar curb weight and a 50% higher price range. The fully charged range is much more crucial when it comes to EV. Running out of battery charge while driving results in serious inconvenience comparable to vehicle breakdown because of an orders of magnitude longer fuel charging time and lack of charging facilities.