ANALYSIS AND MODELING OF PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING EFFICIENCY

Based on 2007 data, the average energy consumption of an American household could increase by 23% with the addition of one Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV); this "sticker-shock" may impact the adoption of all PHEVs due to the unanticipated cost and time associated with vehicle charging. Furthermore, very few automotive standard work practices could identify and quantify this effect on the end consumer. To alleviate consumer reservations, vehicle plug-in charging must be designed to maximize the percentage of grid energy supplied to the battery and reduce the extra cost and time required to charge. Maximum efficiency can only be obtained through a systematic view of the charging process. Thus, the approach reviewed in this report considers not only the charger and EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) but also the RESS (Rechargeable Energy Storage System), the thermal management system, and the vehicle control modules. This report will outline a progression in charger system modeling techniques in the early vehicle development process and compare the results to empirical data. The goal of the report is to demonstrate the merit of including charging modeling as a portion of PHEV standard development work and stimulate discussion on systematic charging efficiency.