Performance Modelling of Pure Electric Three-Wheelers on Indian Roads for the Development of Range Extension Strategy

In terms of point-to-point connectivity and convenience, Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-powered three-wheeler autorickshaws are perhaps the most popular means of public transport in India, along with other Asian nations, for short-distance commuting within a city and its environs. The development of pure Electric Vehicles (EVs) is spearheading India’s Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution, although their popularity is curtailed by factors such as energy storage demand and range anxiety. This study attempts to fill this gap by simulating a pure electric three-wheeler autorickshaw based on the Indian Driving Cycle (IDC) and proposing an energy-saving solution with all essential parameters for calculating the energy, power, and torque demands using Microsoft Excel. An approach is outlined for conserving energy or leveraging that energy to extend the vehicle’s range. A comprehensive analysis has been made between the amount of energy gained through a regenerative braking system (40 and 50% regenerative braking efficiency) and the amount of energy saved while driving in power-saving mode, following Modified Indian Driving Cycles (MIDCs), where the vehicle speed is capped at 35, 20, and 15 km/h for the last 25 km of the initial driving range. Initially, the calculated range was 77.69 km, and among the three MIDCs (capping velocity: 35, 20, and 15 km/h), the MIDC with a capping velocity of 20 km/h was preferred. With 40% regenerative braking efficiency, the range increases by 85.12%, reaching 143.82 km. Similarly, 50% regenerative braking efficiency results in a 91.95% increase in range, bringing the overall range to 149.13 km.