Optimal energy/time routing in battery-powered vehicles

Abstract

The limited battery capacity of Electric vehicles (EVs), and consequently limited cruising range, hinders their widespread adoption. This paper proposes a solution to the problem of optimal energy/time routing under battery constraints. A multi-criteria path-finding algorithm, A*, is proposed to function in two modes. The first is an energy mode to solve the problem of energy-optimal routing under battery constraints. This mode computes the most energy-efficient route from a source to a destination, thus extending the cruising range of the battery. The second is a travel-time mode to compute the time-optimal route under the battery constraints. The multi-criteria model aims to use the modes to strike a balance between energy consumption and travel time, so as to satisfy the user constraints and needs. This research reports simulation work conducted to test and validate the proposed model under various driving conditions.