Model-Based Development and Simulation of Operating Conditions in a Battery Electric Vehicle Using Simulink

The objective of this thesis is the development of a model-based strategy for analyzing and simulating the operating conditions of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), implemented in the Matlab/Simulink environment. Following a brief overview of BEVs, their societal importance and the challenges they face (e.g., energy efficiency, control strategies, battery management), the focus shifts to the role of Model-Based Design (MBD) as a systematic approach for simulation, testing, and validation. The project centers on the creation of a simulation model compliant with automotive standards, based on a Modular Technical Model (MTM) architecture. The system is organized into five main modules: “Environment and External Inputs”, “Plant”, “Control”, “HMI” and “Driver”. The physical model (Plant) includes key subsystems such as the battery, electric motor, transmission and vehicle body. Control logic is implemented using Simulink controllers and Stateflow state machines to manage four core operational phases: Start-up, Drive, Charge and Stop. A custom interactive dashboard (HMI) was also developed to monitor vehicle behavior in real time during simulation. Additionally, an extensive regulatory and safety analysis was carried out to define system requirements and perform risk assessment through the Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA) methodology. These requirements were then translated into test objectives to verify the system under various operating conditions. Once the model was completed, it was validated through simulation scenarios designed to ensure logical and functional consistency. The project concludes with the validation of the system in a Model-in-the-Loop (MiL) environment, laying the groundwork for future expansion to Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) implementation.