DESC0024965

Simulations on forest landscapes indicate that in road systems where empty logging trucks gain elevation and full trucks lose elevation while delivering their timber loads to mills, regenerative braking featured in electric vehicle (EV) systems can reduce the energy cost of transportation by over 30%. This efficiency increases the energy availability to the system as a whole and increases battery range, which helps to combat range anxiety, a leading deterrent to EV adoption. Mauka Energy aims to embed a novel forestry electric vehicle energy routing (FEVER) tool into heavy-duty trucks capable of regenerative braking; specifically, Edison Motorĺs hybrid electric log truck (ELT). The forestry electric vehicle energy routing (FEVER) tool calculates the optimal route based on energy efficiency and maps energy cost across a landscape. Phase I will support testing and implementation of this energy efficiency mobility system, which has been simulated but is yet unproven in a real-world setting. Mauka Energy will develop the FEVER tool by digitizing a forest landscape for use with the FEVER tool, developing a platform to host the tool (e.g. tablet with GPS capability), installing the tool in an ELT, and field testing the ELT-mounted FEVER tool in Oregon State Universityĺs McDonald Dunn Research Forest. Training data will be collected and the underlying energy estimation model in the FEVER tool will be improved based on the results of field testing. A report on these improvements and developmental recommendations based on the study findings will also be produced in consultation with ELT developers. The FEVER tool's ability to map effective vehicle range is not limited to ELT systems. It can be used to compare EV range or energy delivery cost to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. This system can also be applied to sectors other than forestry, such as urban delivery, agriculture, or mining. Deliverables from this project would be used for further model development, expanded field testing, graphical user interface development for the tool and an economic analysis incorporating an energy cost comparison between various EV and ICE vehicles.