Research on drive mode for an independent eight in-wheel motor drive vehicle

This paper describes a control strategy of drive modes switch for an independent eight in-wheel motor drive vehicle. There are three drive modes, and they are eight-wheel drive with ASR mode, eight-wheel drive mode and four-wheel drive mode. The control strategy is designed to improve the integrated performance of the vehicle, such as safety, dynamic performance and economic performance, but the previous research can only improve one of them. When the road adhesion coefficient is very small, the vehicle will drive in eight-wheel drive with ASR mode to ensure the vehicle's safety, when the driver torque demand is very big, the vehicle will drive in eight-wheel mode to get better dynamic performance and when the driver torque demand is very small, the vehicle drive in four-wheel mode to get better economic performance. The vehicle switches among the three modes according to the driving condition. Simulations of the new control strategy were carried out on two different driving conditions. The results showed that an improvement in safety or economic performance was achieved with the control strategy.