Motion resistance modelling and validation in winter conditions with varying air drag

Journal article, 2025

Range prediction is vital for battery electric vehicles, and the main source of errors in range prediction is often the uncertainty in motion resistance. Rig and wind tunnel measurements can be used to find the motion resistance of a specific vehicle combination under specified weather conditions. However, real-life variation of the operating conditions of heavy-duty vehicles makes testing impractical. This paper proposes and validates a model of motion resistance with parameters adapted to actual road weather conditions. The model is validated in winter conditions with varying wind, using a vehicle equipped with a wind sensor. The results show that the proposed model captures the motion resistance with high accuracy. Results also indicate that it is crucial to take weather effects into account when modelling motion resistance, particularly in winter conditions.