Abstract

Utilisation of pure electric vehicles (EV) enables a step change in vehicle efficiency when compared to those powered by an internal combustion engine. Cenex, the UK's Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell technologies specialises in understanding the real-world and whole-vehicle performance of low carbon vehicles and in collaboration with the University of Lincoln and Loughborough University has undertaken chassis dynamometer testing of an OEM electric passenger car. This paper presents the methodology and results of laboratory testing that studied the whole vehicle efficiency and energy consumption over a range of vehicle speed and battery load points and reports on the charging and battery efficiency of the EV during the test period to present a total plug-to-wheel EV efficiency when operated over both regulated and real-world drive cycles. © 2012 Woodhead Publishing Limited.