Optimizing Energy Harvesting: A Gain-Scheduled Braking System for Electric Vehicles with Enhanced State of Charge and Efficiency

Recycling braking energy is crucial in increasing the overall energy efficiency of an electric vehicle. Regenerative braking system (RBS) technology makes a significant contribution, but it is quite challenging to design an optimal braking force distribution while ensuring vehicle stability and battery health. In this study, a parallel-distribution braking system that transfers as much energy as possible from the wheel to the battery was investigated. An integrated braking force distribution with gain-scheduling super-twisting sliding mode control (GSTSMC) was proposed to capture the maximum kinetic energy during braking and convert it into electrical energy. Parallel friction and regenerative braking ratios dominate the design of the braking component, which is based on the speed of the vehicle. A GSTSMC was implemented and incorporated into the vehicle dynamics model developed in the ADVISOR environment. Simulation was utilized to rigorously validate the efficacy of the proposed control strategy, ensuring its potential to perform optimally in practical applications. Consideration was given to the vehicle’s slip ratio on dry asphalt to maintain vehicle stability. Simulation results were used to validate the performance of the proposed design in terms of the state of charge (SOC), transmitted energy, motor efficiency, battery temperature, and slip ratio. Based on the results, the proposed control strategy is capable of increasing the SOC value to 54%, overall efficiency to 25.98%, energy transmitted to 14.27%, and energy loss to 87 kJ while considering the vehicle’s speed-tracking ability, battery temperature, and stability.