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

As the technology supporting electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly progressing and the cost of EV components is reducing, EVs are becoming more feasible for use in Australia and in many countries around the world. However, the public perception of EVs and their perceived limitations result in a slow uptake of the technology, partially because of the uncertainty regarding the ability of an EV to meet the driving needs of the general population. Range anxiety is a particular concern with drivers having fear of being stranded by a depleted EV battery. This study explores means of reducing range anxiety by taking into account a variety of environmental and behavioural factors. By considering such factors and implementing it in conjunction with a recently proposed improved state of charge (SoC) estimation method by the authors, a range estimate can be produced that is much more accurate than the conventional methods which consider the SoC and vehicle efficiency alone. This range estimate can be used to inform the driver of the capabilities of the EV and advise if a recharge is required to reach the intended destination.