An energy conservation strategy based on drive mode switching for multi-axle in-wheel motor driven vehicle

A multi-axle in-wheel motor driven vehicle requires a reasonable drive mode switching method to achieve energy conservation control, which is not sufficiently investigated in the past. To fill the blank, an energy conservation strategy based on drive mode switching is studied in this paper to reduce the energy consumption of multi-axle in-wheel motor driven vehicles. The strategy is developed on the basis of a four-axle in-wheel motor driven vehicle, and a drive mode switching subsystem is established in a hierarchical vehicle dynamics integrated control system. The proposed strategy will determine the number and position of the wheels that involved in driving in real time according to the characteristics of the in-wheel motor and the road conditions, and improve the efficiency of driving system by making the involved wheels work in high efficiency zone as much as possible. Results of the comparison simulation which conducted in Matlab/Simulink environment shows that the presented strategy based on drive mode switching could markedly reduce the energy consumption of four-axle in-wheel motor driven vehicle. The basic idea of this driving mode switching method is also applicable to other multi-axle in-wheel motor driven vehicles.