Vehicle dynamics analysis and design for the "Dutch Innovator" vehicle

This report presents the research on the vehicle dynamics modelling and suspension design for a to be built one-off vehicle. The vehicle is called the Dutch Innovator vehicle, and is designed for travelling around the globe while minimizing the ecological footprint. To accomplish this, the vehicle is propelled by either a full electric or hybrid drivetrain. Combining this with the heavy cabin mounted on top off the chassis to enclose the passengers, the resulting designs are heavy (up to 3500 [kg]) and have a high center of gravity (0:95 [m]). The goal of this internship is to improve the driving behavior of the Dutch Innovator vehicle. This will be done by creating a model to simulate the dynamic behavior of the vehicle under various circumstances. From these simulations, conclusions will be drawn regarding ride and handling of the vehicle and the amount of energy dissipated in the suspension. Furthermore, these results will be used to determine whether the suspension should be adjusted and if it is feasible to improve the driving range by recuperating energy from the suspension. Conclusively it is stated that the Dutch Innovator vehicle combines a not uncomfortable ride with a safe handling. Unfortunately, the energy dissipated in the suspension can not be recuperated to increase the driving range.