Improvement driving characteristics of electric tricycle

Abstract

The article deals with the design of a modified system for changing of the driving direction of a three-wheel vehicle with electric drive. The classic solution of three-wheeled vehicles is unstable at a certain speed, which leads to dangerous tilting. The new designed steering system of such a vehicle should contribute to increasing its safety and to widening the scope for its use. The vehicle is currently designed for one person, but it is expected to increase its capacity to two persons and their luggage. It brings changes in a construction of the vehicle and results in a change in the centre of gravity. The modified solution of the vehicle steering system increases its maximum speed. The vehicle construction consists of an electric drive located above the rear axle with torque transmission to the rear wheels. The front wheel is steered. The classic steering solution is replaced by a steering wheel that facilitates steering. The article compares the stability of a vehicle with a modified steering system to the conventional solution during driving in a curve. The calculations were performed for various speeds using the multibody simulation on the virtual model in Simpack software. The solution is a part of the project supported by the Volkswagen Slovakia Foundation oriented on the support of electromobility, students and young scientists.