Identification and Review of the Research Gaps Preventing a Realization of Optimal Energy Management Strategies in Vehicles

The development of new vehicle control strategies that achieve improved fuel economy (FE) is an active subject of research due to the economic, environmental, and societal impact of transportation. These control strategies can be classified as either driving behavior modifications (e.g., Eco-Driving, Eco-Routing) or powertrain operation modifications (e.g., an Optimal Energy Management Strategy, or Optimal EMS). This literature review is focused on the Optimal EMS and seeks to develop a novel understanding of the current research gaps and to provide a novel comprehensive overview of initial studies addressing the identified research gaps. Research gaps are derived by utilizing a systems-level viewpoint of an Optimal EMS realization in vehicles and studying the subsystem integration readiness levels (IRLs). Identified research gaps include (1) incorporation of both perception and planning subsystems, (2) studying the effects of mispredictions on the planning subsystem, and (3) physical demonstrations of the planning subsystem. Studies which have begun to fill each research gap are identified, and recommendations are presented for future research to bridge each research gap. It is the authors’ contention that once the identified research gaps are closed by future studies, Optimal EMS will be achievable in modern vehicles resulting in improved transportation sustainability.