Whole body vibration and rider comfort determination of an electric two-wheeler test rig

Abstract

Background: Two-wheeled vehicles are the major mode of transportation in India. Such vehicles are exposed to excessive vibration on the road when compared to four-wheeled vehicles. However, the research on the reduction of whole body vibration in the case of two-wheelers is not explored in detail. The present study predicts rider comfort in the case of an electric two-wheeler as per ISO 2631-1. Methods: An electric two-wheeler test rig is used in the study. The values of acceleration from the test rig in running conditions are obtained by using NI LabVIEW 2016. The drive cycle of the electric vehicle (EV) test rig is controlled by Sync sols’ EV lab software. Obtaining the root mean square (RMS) acceleration from running the test setup, it is compared with the ISO 2631 standard to obtain the rider comfort. Results: Loading area, traction motor, base mount, and suspension were found to be the strategic points of vibration. RMS acceleration of 0.2 g to 3.29 g obtained at these points are prone to cause discomfort for the rider. Vehicle speed, road profile, and duration of exposure were found to be important parameters affecting the rider’s comfort. About 19 % increase in the vibration amplitude is observed at the loading area when loads are removed. The loading area as corresponds to a rider’s seat in actual vehicle, it is important to reduce these vibrations to make the ride comfortable for the rider. Conclusions: A suitable damping technique design is very much essential in reducing these vibrations and improve the rider comfort, as many more non-deterministic vibrations are prone to cause dis-comfort in case of actual on road riding conditions.