Drive Cycle for Commercial Vehicles for Selection of Power Train to Get Optimum Fuel Efficiency

A drive cycle is a representation of standardized driving pattern. Drive cycle is typically represented as a vehicle speed, gradient Vs time developed to represent the driving pattern which is independent of vehicle configuration. A drive cycle has been developed for commercial vehicle based on real life data.

Analysis was done on the representative data measured and recorded by real driving behaviors for different driving conditions (City, and highway), along with engine part load data and vehicle parameters like Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), gear box ratios, rear axle ratio, tire size. The above set of parameters are simulated and validated on software.

Estimation of fuel consumption (based on developed drive cycle) using validated software matches real time fuel consumption. This would eventually lead us to choose power train to get better output in terms of fuel efficiency. In turn, Power train optimization is achieved using less number of actual trials which eventually leads to reduction in development time. The below paper covers both new drive cycle development and based on that power train selection to attain better fuel efficiency.