Evaluating the impact of ambient temperature on energy consumption rate of electric two-wheeler using real-world driving data

Abstract

Electric two-wheelers are gaining popularity due to environmental benefits, extensive operating temperature, and low running costs. However, various environmental factors significantly affect their energy consumption rate and overall performance, with ambient temperature being the critical one. This study investigates the impact of ambient temperature on energy consumption rate and performance of electric two-wheelers by utilizing real-world driving data. An experimental setup consists of drive cycle source, speed control unit, motor control unit, battery pack, and motor with varying ambient temperatures ranging from 15 °C to 40 °C. The experimental setup utilized various sensors to collect parameters such as speed, temperature, current, voltage, state of charge, state of health, and driving range. The result shows that the optimal operating temperature for electric two-wheelers is between 20 °C and 30 °C, where energy efficiency and driving range are maximized. At 15 °C, the driving range decreases to 112.41 km, approximately 2 % lower than at moderate ambient temperature, while at 40 °C, the driving range increases by 2 %, reaching 114.68 km. The study also reveals that an extreme ambient temperature reduces the battery's useable capacity, negatively impacting power output and driving range. Additionally, the battery pack's cell temperature rises by 2.2 °C above the ambient temperature in both low and high conditions.

Keywords

• Energy consumption
• Driving range
• Electric two-wheeler
• Ambient temperature