TNO plays a key role in future electric vehicle development, evaluation, and testing

The HiFi-ELEMENTS (High Fidelity Modelling and Testing) project will address this fragmentation through two main mechanisms: Firstly, we will develop, validate and publish a recommendation for standardisation of model interfaces for common e-drive components (e-machine, inverter, battery, DC/DC converter, thermal management system), and will implement compliant versions of existing models. Secondly, we will implement a seamless workflow linking extended versions of existing tools—a model/data management tool and a co-simulation tool for Model in the Loop (MiL) and Hardware in the Loop (HiL) environments—augmented with effort-saving automated methods for model parameterisation and test case generation. Validation of standardised models and workflow will be done in four industrially relevant use cases depicting scenarios in e-drivetrain and EV development. On project conclusion, the interface recommendations and workflow methods will be disseminated in order to gain widespread EV-industry adoption. Consortium partners are very intensive users of virtual testing and will directly use the project results, while tool vendor partners will exploit the results by bringing extended software tools to market.

TNO's role

Within HiFi-ELEMENTS, TNO is focusing on novel developments within Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) strategies for electrified vehicles, as well as advanced models and control algorithms for next generation battery packs, targeting predictive thermal management for comprehensive control of future powertrains. Alongside other developments within the project, these technologies are expected to significantly contribute towards future transportation needs, both for light and heavy duty vehicles.

The powertrain supervisory control activities target the development of a modular tool for automated predictive powertrain control strategy generation, with use cases targeting control strategies for integrated speed and energy management, aiming to maximize the E-drivetrain efficiency.

On the battery side, TNO focuses on thermal modelling and controls. This spans over battery thermal models, battery thermal state observers, as well as battery charge management strategies. These will be validated via a battery module prototype developed by TNO.

In addition to model and algorithm development, TNO plays an important role in the evaluation phase of the project, involving mixed testing and simulation activities, when the results of several parallel use cases are integrated and assessed against project objectives.