It was developed an eco-driving cycle for an energy saving race car. A fuel consumption simulation model of race car was established to simulate the real engine and vehicle performance based on driving rules and racing track condition. It was studied the effects of engine throttle opening and the vehicle speed in acceleration and deceleration modes on fuel consumption. Several driving schemes were proposed and compared, the optimum results are as follows: with lowest fuel consumption, the engine throttle opening is 60% to 80%, the vehicle speed range is 5 to 65km/h during acceleration and deceleration modes. In addition, the race car should coast in neutral fully at deceleration mode within the allowable running time of the racing rules.
An eco-driving cycle was designed based on the optimum results. The simulating results show that the race car fuel consumption with the eco-driving cycle can be reduced by 37% comparing with previous one.
The design method of eco-driving cycle by coupling the road condition with engine and vehicle characteristics can be applied in study of energy-saving driving of vehicle.