Development of a Software-in-the-Loop Simulation Environment for Electric Kart Dynamics using Simulink and GT-Power

This thesis presents the development of a Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) simulation environment for analyzing the dynamic behavior of an electric racing kart. The model focuses on the Rotax E20 Gen3 competition kart and is implemented using MATLAB & Simulink and GT-Power. The objective is to create a modular and flexible simulation tool that supports design optimization and performance evaluation across various subsystems. The simulation architecture includes a multi degrees of freedom vehicle body model, a nonlinear multibody steering system, an electric powertrain with custom throttle mapping, a braking system, a tire model based on the Pacejka Magic Formula, and a chassis stiffness model developed using Simscape. A co-simulation interface with GT-Power is established to enhance the modeling fidelity of the battery and electric motor systems, including regenerative braking strategies. Furthermore, integrating GT-Power into the loop enables flexible substitution of the entire powertrain, allowing seamless implementation of pre-existing models developed for other platforms or use cases. Validation of the model is carried out through standard dynamic tests, such as straight-line acceleration, constant-radius cornering, double lane change maneuvers, as well as full-laps on a real racing circuit. Race track simulations replicate typical conditions found in motorsport environments, providing a comprehensive and realistic evaluation of system performance. The influence of the weight distribution is analyzed to assess its impact on handling performance and kart behavior. This work contributes to the field of electric kart engineering by providing a reliable and versatile virtual environment for simulation-based design, enabling faster iteration cycles and deeper insight into vehicle dynamics.