Week-3 Challenge: ADVISOR Tool

Use ADVISOR tool and simulate the following 

1) For EV_defaults_in file, if cargo mass is 500 kg with all other default conditions, can the vehicle travel for 45 km with FTP drive cycle? Conclude your observations.

ADVISOR Tool-

ADVISOR tool developed in November 1994 by the national renewable energy laboratory(NREL), allows users to simulate and analyse conventional, advanced, light and heavy vehicles including hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles. The tool allows users to access the effect of changes in vehicle components such as – motors, batteries, catalytic converters, climate control systems, and alternative fuels) and other modifications that might affect fuel economy, performance, or emissions. 

The advisor file is been downloaded. Extracted all the files & added to the path.

The EV_ Default_in  vehicle is a pure Electric Vehicle where it’s completely driven by battery as power source.

The cargo weight (mass) given is of 500KG. 

The drive cycle chosen is FTP (Federal Test Procedure).

Simulation-

After adding the advisor file to the path, type advisor in command window.

the advisor tool will open then select the units in either metric or US.

In load file select EV_default_in.

Add cargo mass 500kg.

Total calculated mass will become 1508kg.

By default battery chosen is pb i.e Lead Acid Battery.

In order to move forward click on continue .

In Drive cycle select CYC_FTP drive cycle.

Further click on RUN to simulate the results.

As can be seen from Results that EV_DEFAULT_IN can travel maximum distance of 17.8 KM.

Now, click on BACK icon and add 2nd drive cycle in # icon & simulate the results.

After adding 2nd drive cycle the EV can travel 35.5 km.

we have a warning / message displayed in RED Color showing that 

Further adding 3rd drive cycle.

After RUN 

The distance traved in 3rd drive cycle by EV is 41.4km.

Lets see for 4th drive cycle,

After running for 4th drive cycle we can see that the battery is completly drain, and can travel only 41.4 km.

Therefore our condition was to run for 45km using FTP drive cycle But by using EV_Default_in vehicle we can only travel 41.4km. Therefore we can conclude that EV-Default_in cannot travel distance of 45km & message out is that the required distance exceeded the EV range. So, in order to achieve the required distance we need to increase the battery capacity.

2) In the above case, try changing the battery capacity and repeat the simulation.

Condition 1- Battery with 26 modules 321 voltage.

for 3rd drive cycle the vehicle run maximum distance of 49.7km.

Condition 2- Battery with 27 modules & 333 voltage

Running it for 3rd drive cycle can travel maximum of 51.8km in a selected battery size.

Condition 3- Battery with 28 modules & 345 voltage

Running it for 3rd drive cycle the vehichle can travel maximum of 53.2km range.

Condition 4- Battery with 29 modules & 345 voltage

distance traveled in 3rd drive cycle is 53.3km range.

We tried using different battery modules and simulated the results for 3rd drive cycle.

Battery module	voltage of battery	weight of battery	Distance traveled (km)
26	321	286	49.7
27	333	297	51.8
28	345	308	53.2
29	358	319	53.3

 3) Perform gradeability test with PRIUS_Jpn_defaults_in file

      Compare your results in table and conclude. 

the simulation for PRIUS_Jpn_defaults_in vehicle is shown in below figure.

the acceleration test and greadeability tests are carried out.

Comparision of Results

sr.no	vehicle speed (mph)	vehicle speed (kmph)	Gradeability(%)
1	10	16.1	17.9
2	20	32.2	13.1
3	30	48.3	10.6
4	40	64.4	9
5	50	80.5	7.9
6	60	96.6	7
7	80	128.7	3.6
8	100	160.9	0.8
9	120	193.1	0

From the above results we can conclude for PRIUS_Jpn_defaults_in vehicle as the speed(kmph) increases the gradeability (%) decreases.