Analysis of Wheel Rolling Resistance in a Personal Electric Vehicle

The emergence PEVs (Personal Electric Vehicle) means an alternative mode of transport, which are cleaner for the environment. Electricity is the power source for PEVs, however the electrical energy stored in PEV batteries are very limited. To increase the battery life in PEVs, which will increase the range, the forces acting on the PEV must be reduced. There are three main forces acting on PEVs, namely aerodynamic drag, surface gradient, and also rolling resistance. This project aims to examine the rolling resistance in PEV wheels. Often this variable is overlooked by designers when calculating the power needed by the PEV, as the rolling resistance is deemed insignificant to the overall load needed to be overcome by the PEV. In this study, the scope of study is measuring the rolling resistance of PEV wheels of different types in order to find the most optimized wheels for use. The experiment that is to be carried out is the coast down experiment. This study will benefit the designers of PEV in finding the most suitable type of wheel for the PEVs that they are designing.