A Simulation-Based Assessment of Energy Flow, Efficiency, and Emissions in a Battery Electric Vehicle

This study investigates the performance, energy flow, efficiency, and environmental impact of a C-segment battery electric vehicle (BEV). As BEVs are increasingly considered a sustainable alternative to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, a detailed understanding of their energy utilization and operational emissions is essential. A MATLAB/Simulink-based vehicle model incorporating an 88.5 kWh battery pack, a 160 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), regenerative braking, and longitudinal vehicle dynamics was developed. The developed model was validated by comparing the simulated vehicle performance characteristics with the publicly available specifications and performance data of the reference TOGG T10F vehicle. The vehicle was evaluated under the WLTP Class 3 driving cycle, while the effects of aggressive and high-speed driving conditions were further investigated using the US06 and Artemis Motorway 150 cycles. The results indicate a net vehicle energy consumption of 136.4 Wh/km and a driving range of 623 km under WLTP conditions. The PMSM achieved average efficiencies of 93.4% in traction mode and 92.7% in regenerative braking mode, while the cumulative battery-to-wheel drivetrain efficiency reached 81.5%. In addition, approximately 19.9% of the consumed energy was recovered through regenerative braking. Vehicle emissions were also assessed using different electricity generation mixes based on the rated energy consumption, including charging losses, yielding operational emissions between 27.7 and 116.0 gCO2e/km. The findings demonstrate that the developed model provides realistic performance predictions and confirm the potential of BEVs to achieve high efficiency and substantially lower emissions than conventional passenger vehicles.