Future vision for reduction of range anxiety by using an improved state of charge estimation algorithm for electric vehicle batteries implemented with low‐cost microcontrollers

Abstract

The fear of being stranded by a depleted electric vehicle (EV) battery is commonly referred to as 'range anxiety'. This study explores a future vision for a comprehensive driver alerting algorithm to reduce the range anxiety by increasing the accuracy of the EV range estimation method. The key piece of information required to achieve this is an accurate battery state of charge (SoC) estimation. This study proposes an improved SoC estimation algorithm for implementation using low-cost microcontrollers. A method by which this improved algorithm can be implemented in a distributed battery management system is presented. The improved SoC estimation can be used to provide an enhanced range estimation method that can take into consideration a variety of environmental and behavioural factors. The proposed range estimate is more accurate than when only SoC is considered and can be implemented as part of a comprehensive driver alerting system to alert the EV driver of the expected energy required to reach the destination, the expected range with current SoC, an advisory if charging will be required prior to reaching the destination and the suggested duration of the charging required. By reducing the uncertainty surrounding EV range, it is hoped that the uptake of EVs can be improved.

Investigation on Range Anxiety and Safety Buffer of Battery Electric Vehicle Drivers

“…A more accurate and trustworthy in-vehicle information system is of great help to lower the total range anxiety level of drivers, according to [3,5,10]. Methods are proposed to estimate the battery SoC or vehicle range in [5,8,14].…”

“…Methods are proposed to estimate the battery SoC or vehicle range in [5,8,14]. However, the information system also reminds the driver of the depletion of the BEV's range, potentially raising the speed of the vehicle making drivers gaining anxiety.…”

“…Vincent R. Tannahill et al [5] explored the future of range anxiety solutions. A driver alerting algorithm is proposed, which was able to reduce range anxiety.…”

Driver alerting system using range estimation of electric vehicles in real time under dynamically varying environmental conditions

“…On converted vehicles, this data may not be tracked at all. An improved SoC estimation method, capable of calculating the battery's SoC based on measurement of battery current during charge and discharge, the open-circuit voltage of a battery cell and a number of other operating parameters, has been proposed in the authors' earlier work [13]. This paper describes the use of the proposed improved SoC estimation, coupled with a variety of data from various sources to be collected, including route information, charging station locations, driving conditions, and driver behaviour, to reduce the range anxiety.…”

An intelligent driver alerting system for real-time range indicator embedded in electric vehicles

“…Even taking into consideration the new low-cost generation of electric vehicle batteries, the range anxiety can still limit the usage of electric vehicles. Recently, a great deal of effort has been devoted to the study of reducing range anxiety by improving the SoC/range estimation methods in the vehicle battery monitoring systems using low cost microcontrollers [2], taking environmental conditions into consideration [3] [4], driver behavior [3] [5] [6], traffic conditions [6]- [7] and, time-variant efficiency analysis of the drive system [8]- [9]. There is still a lack, however, of studies into the communication between the vehicle battery monitoring systems and the electric vehicle drivers.…”