A REAL-WORLD ENERGY AND COST COMPARISON BETWEEN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND A PETROL VEHICLE IN THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CONTEXT

Abstract

This paper compares actual and predicted energy use and running costs for an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICE) and an electric vehicle (EV) in typical Trinidad and Tobago driving conditions. Detailed fuel/energy flow data were extracted to parameterise and validate representative MATLAB/Simulink models of each. Simulations were performed using a representative driving cycle as an input for both vehicle models and parameters such as fuel flow rate and rate of energy transfer were recorded. Energy used by the EV over the driving cycle was approximately 20% of that used by the ICE. The analysis was extended to consider the Well to Wheel energy use and CO2 emissions by combining the model results with published data, showing that both energy and CO2 emissions from the EV are approximately 50% of those produced by the ICE. Further, it was estimated based on the findings that if 10% of the vehicle fleet was displaced by EVs, this would provide a 9% contribution to the Trinidad and Tobago Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for transportation by 2030. This could be significantly increased if renewable generating sources were to be added to the electrical grid.