Comparative Analysis of Battery Degradation in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Through Integrated System-level Simulation

This study presents the development and validation of a numerical model for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV), with a focus on analyzing battery degradation under various driving scenarios and modes. The proposed model integrates a comprehensive vehicle dynamics framework with a detailed battery model to evaluate the impact of different driving conditions on battery performance and longevity. The vehicle model captures the hybrid powertrain's behavior, including energy management strategies, while the battery model incorporates electrochemical dynamics to predict degradation mechanisms such as capacity fade and resistance increase. Two primary driving scenarios are examined: urban driving, characterized by frequent stops, accelerations, and transitions between aggressive and relaxed driving styles, and long-distance highway driving, where cruising speeds and driving patterns vary. The urban scenario emphasizes the effects of stop-and-go traffic and varying acceleration rates, while the highway scenario explores the influence of sustained high speeds and adaptive cruise control strategies. Additionally, leveraging the validated HEV model, a fully BEV version is developed to compare battery degradation cycles between the hybrid and electric configurations. By simulating these scenarios, the study quantifies the trade-offs between driving behavior, energy consumption, and battery degradation for both vehicle types. The results provide insights into optimal driving strategies to minimize battery wear while maintaining vehicle performance, as well as a comparative analysis of battery lifespan in hybrid versus electric configurations. This work contributes to the growing body of knowledge on vehicle electrification by offering a predictive tool for battery lifespan estimation, aiding in the design of more efficient energy management systems and informing drivers on practices that extend battery life.