Rolling Resistance for a Vehicle when Driving Up and Down a Road Gradient
Paper in proceeding, 2026

Abstract: The rolling resistance of a vehicle is important, e.g., for range estimation. The question addressed is how total rolling resistance of a vehicle changes going up or down a hill, with everything else being the same. The basic idea in this paper is that rolling resistance of tires come from energy losses due to tire deformation repeated each wheel revolution. Going uphill requires more driving torque than driving on horizontal road, thus more deformation, more losses, and more rolling resistance. Going downhill is opposite, it requires less driving torque than horizontal road, and thus less deformation, less losses, and less rolling resistance. Based on model discussions, conjectures are made, and an experimental investigation method is proposed. Also based on model discussions, the first question is whether the rolling resistance decreases with per milles going uphill, if the inclination is in the order of percents, or if it increases with percents. An experimental program is suggested and initiated.

Automated Driving

Chassis

Vehicle Control

Integrated Control

Vehicle Dynamics

Author

Lars Nielsen

Linköping University

Mikael Askerdal

Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Systems and control

Other publications Research

Fredrik Bruzelius

Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Other publications Research

Carl Emvin

Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Other publications Research

Lars Eriksson

Linköping University

Mattias Hjort

The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

Bengt Jacobson

Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Other publications Research

Mats Jonasson

Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

Other publications Research

Sogol Kharrazi

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems

The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

Other publications Research

Proceedings of 17th International Symposium on Advanced Vehicle Control (AVEC’26)

International Symposium on Advanced Vehicle Control (AVEC’26)
Tsukuba, Japan,

Range Efficiency and Assistance for Zero-Carbon Haulage (REACH)

Swedish Energy Agency (P2025-04473), 2026-01-01 -- 2029-12-31.

Show Project

Utility and trust oF Electric vEhicLes (U-FEEL)

Swedish Energy Agency (P2022-00948), 2022-10-01 -- 2025-09-30.

Scania AB, 2022-10-01 -- 2025-09-30.

Volvo Cars, 2022-10-01 -- 2025-09-30.

Volvo Group, 2022-10-01 -- 2025-09-30.

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Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)

Vehicle and Aerospace Engineering

Control Engineering

Infrastructure

ReVeRe (Research Vehicle Resource)

More information

Latest update

9/10/2026

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