Market Research and Energy Efficiency Optimization Analysis for Small EVs

With the acceleration of the global automotive industry shifting from traditional internal combustion vehicles to pure electric vehicles, the interconnection between energy efficiency, battery performance, and energy consumption has become a central focus for both market-driven policies and leading vehicle manufacturers. In particular, micro electric vehicle, which are designed to contain compact dimensions, lightweight vehicle body structure, less space for passengers, and low cost on daily operation, have earned more attention and favor from global customers. Therefore, understanding how to downsize the vehicle and reduce the vehicle weight, while maintaining and compromising with the necessary driving range is essential. The study aims to extract available commercial vehicles data from various global markets to identify a vehicle model that aligns with market demands by featuring a compact size, low energy consumption, reduced battery capacity, and overall cost efficiency. A cross-regional market survey was conducted, covering 46 vehicle models, which included vehicles with several specific versions released in the past 5 years from China, Europe, and Japan. The data collected includes essential specifications such as curb weight, battery capacity, energy consumption, vehicle category, and certified range. To ensure classification consistency across regulatory regions, vehicles were labeled using a dual-category system: the Chinese industry standard (A00, A0, A, etc.) and the European standard (M0, M1, L6e, L7e). The market investigation methodology involves the combination of statistical correlation analysis and intuitive point distribution graphs. These comparative findings provide a comprehensive understanding of market demands, regional variations in electric vehicle performance and energy efficiency, as well as classifications and regulatory requirements in different regions, including passive safety standards. Such insights offer valuable guidance for the subsequent optimization of EV dimensions, battery sizing, and related design considerations. Based on the conclusions derived from the earlier parameter analysis, to investigate the impact of vehicle mass and driving cycles on the electrical efficiency of electric vehicles. Based on the MATLAB Simulink, using the representative case of the Fiat 500e, a longitudinal vehicle model is established to examine the effects of gradually reducing vehicle mass( from baseline 100% to 70%) on energy consumption. The results suggest that decreasing vehicle size and weight not only lowers energy consumption but also enables a reduction in battery capacity and the corresponding volume and mass of the battery pack, thereby contributing to cost reduction. The analysis focuses on how the battery-related findings discussed above affect key aspects of automotive design and manufacturing, including vehicle structure, energy consumption, and production costs. Using relevant examples and modeling, provided a clear and insightful assessment and offered practical recommendations and strategies to help European manufacturers better tailor their vehicles and processes to the specific needs of the Chinese automotive market, ultimately improving their competitiveness.The work presented in this thesis was a joint work carried out collaboratively with my colleague Zhoujiahui s312643