South Korea’s leading automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled a system that estimates the gross weight of a light-duty commercial electric vehicle (EV) and optimises its performance accordingly.
“Hyundai developed this technology because we realised that we needed to take a different approach when it comes to developing electric vehicles for commercial use,” said its eco-technology performance development group leader Chae Mo-yang.
The development of the system is a first-ever for the industry. It utilises acceleration sensors to optimise the vehicle’s operation based on gross weight estimates.
This technology is considered by Hyundai Motor Group for future use in light-duty electric commercial vehicles.
The ability to calculate the gross weight ofavehicle on the move means that an electric vehicle’s torque can be optimised to its estimated remaining range.
This reduces potential wheel spin and traction when a vehicle is carrying less payload, thus increasing efficiency and allowing small business owners to reduce vehicle costs.
This new technology also allows for changes in torque output based on topography, for example, altering the amount of force needed to propel a vehicle uphill.
“We are preparing for a future where we will be able to offer commercial EVs that operate at its optimum specifications under any given road condition, regardless of how much payload it is carrying.
“These vehicles will be very economical to operate,” said Chae.
According to Hyundai, the acceleration sensors were utilised in developing this technology instead of weight sensors to keep the price competitive.
“Developing the technology in this manner means that it can be applied to a vehicle not equipped with a costly air suspension system,” Hyundai Motor Group said.
It said the EV’s gross weight was estimated through Newton’s law of acceleration.
“In short, the less mass and more energy put on matter, the faster it moves. So, when pushing an object at a constant speed, the weight of the object can be calculated depending on its acceleration rate,” it said.
Through this process, the system can estimate the distance the EV may travel and adjust its maximum torque output.
Specifically, the potential vehicle range estimate is based on the accurate measurement of the current weight and speed of the vehicle, enhancing efficiency for commercial use.
“For example, when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load, the system automatically informs the driver of the estimated drive range to secure sufficient battery life to reach the destination safely,” it said.
Hyundai Motor Group has been making great effort to develop environment-friendly commercial vehicles to contribute to global greenhouse gas reduction.
Last year, it signed a memorandum of understanding with Swiss company H2 Energy to establish a joint venture — Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility — through which it will produce 1,000 heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks for five years.
The technology utilises the acceleration sensors to optimise the vehicle’s settings basedoncurrent grossweight estimate. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group.