Stability Issues of Rear–Wheel–Drive Electric Vehicle During Regenerative Braking

This research is focused on driving stability issues, which can be caused by specifics of electric vehicle (EV) powertrains. Specific driving conditions, such as intensive road curvature and low grip, require precise control from the driver and very accurate and not delayed vehicle stabilization from its active safety systems. These systems, typically anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and electronic stability programs (ESP), perform their tasks sufficiently well, but new vehicle architectures are forcing a reassessment of their reliability, sometimes requiring additional safety subsystems. In the context of EV architecture and its propulsion systems, a possible lack of stability is anticipated when operating intensive regenerative braking in EVs with a rear–wheel–drive transmission. Experimental research conducted on two popular electric vehicles confirmed this hypothesis, as additional oversteering occurs even when ESP systems have intervened. Based on the experiment, a theoretical simulation model of an EV with regenerative braking on the rear axle was created and validated in MATLAB/Simulink (R2024a). The simulations showed how relevant this issue is and how limited stability systems are; therefore, new strategies were proposed and theoretically tested to ensure car safety. These dedicated regenerative braking control subsystems enable optimal use of regenerative braking and ensure more reliable stability in slippery corners.