Range Testing of Electric Vehicles Using Fast Charging

RANGE TESTING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES USING FAST CHARGING

The constant speed range of electric vehicles (EVs) is tested using ETATP004 and SAE J227a test profiles. However, using rapid charging, the EV can be charged in a short time. But in order to successfully perform range tests on the EV, there is a set of initial conditions that must be satisfied:

• Road tests are performed on a test track, which is level to within 1%. • Initial battery pack temperatures during road testing will be within the range of 60°F and 120°F. • Ambient temperature during road testing will be within the range of 40°F and 100°F. • The recorded wind speed at the test location during a test will not exceed 10mph. • Vehicles are tested at curb weight plus 332lbs. Additional instrumentation will affect the test weight and the balance of the EV. • Tires being used will be inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendations under cold temperature conditions. • All manufacturer-recommended lubricants are employed during the tests. • EV accessories are not used during the test activities. • All the range-related tests commence with batteries charged to the normal shut-off point of the fast charger.

The range test determines the maximum driving range achieved during a 12-hour period when the EV is operated over a three-day consecutive driving period. The test schedule varies on each day and the driving time, miles driven in a 12-hour period, and kWhr-AC consumed during charging are all noted for the duration of the test. (Refer to Appendix C for a Range Test Log). The total miles driven by the EV over the three-day period is averaged to determine the average miles for each day.

Driving Range at the End of Day-1 Test

The vehicle driving range test is to determine the maximum driving range achieved at the end of Day-1 during a 12-hour period. During this test period, the battery pack is periodically charged using the rapid charger. The minimum range traversed by the vehicle in an 8-hour inter-