Driving-Routine Variability of Energy Consumption for Electric Vehicle Through Virtual Reality

Environmental policies involving mobility and transportation are forcing the energy transition also in private vehicle fleets. The progressive diffusion of Electric Vehicles (EVs) together with the technological advancements in battery durability allows EVs to be a cost-competitive alternative to traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. However, the driving style represents a key factor in increasing or reducing the overall energy consumption of EVs. This paper analyses the effects of driving routine in a typical working day on energy consumption of a generic EV. The analysis is performed through a Virtual Reality (VR) driving simulator developed by Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano on a group of 12 test-drivers identified among the personnel of the department. Driving sessions were scheduled in three distinct moments of the day - i.e. morning, after lunch time and evening - and performed onto a given driving scenario connecting Milan with the city of Monza. Results helped in discovering the trends and variability of the average speed throughout the day and recurring patterns associated with the energy consumption. In particular, female drivers are registered to reduce the energy consumption from the morning to the evening by -3%, in opposition to male drivers who increase the consumed energy up to 7%. The use of a VR driving simulator enhances awareness to adapt the driving style to EVs and to support people in the energy transition for sustainable mobility.