Kia Motors Develops World’s First Performance Control for Commercial EVs with Weight Estimation

Kia Motors revealed a system that estimates the gross vehicle weight of a light duty commercial electric vehicle and optimizes performance accordingly. The development of the system is a first-ever for the industry, utilizing acceleration sensors to optimize the vehicle’s settings based on current gross weight estimate. This technology is being considered by Kia motors for use on future light duty electric commercial vehicles.
The ability to calculate the gross weight of a vehicle on the move means that an electric vehicle’s torque output can be optimized to maximize estimated remaining range. This reduces potential wheel spin and reduced traction when a vehicle is carrying less payload, increasing commercial efficiency. The new technology also allows for changes in torque output based on topography, altering the amount of torque needed to propel a vehicle uphill based on its gross weight and allowing small business owners to effectively reduce unnecessary vehicle-related costs.
“Kia developed this technology because we realize that we need to take a different approach when it comes to developing electric vehicles for commercial use,” said Chae Mo Yang, Group Leader of Eco-Technology Performance Development Group. “We are preparing for a future where we will be able to offer commercial EVs that operate at its optimum specifications under any given road condition and regardless of how much payload it is carrying. These vehicles will be very economical to operate.”
Price competitiveness is key to the success of future electric light duty commercial vehicles for small business owners. Keeping this in mind, Kia Motors developed the gross weight estimation technology by utilizing acceleration sensors instead of weight sensors; developing the technology in this manner means that it can be applied to a vehicle not equipped with a costly air suspension system.
Using acceleration sensors, gross weight is estimated through Newton’s law of acceleration. In short, the less mass and more energy put on matter, the faster speed it moves. So, when pushing an object at a constant speed, the weight of the object can be calculated depending on its acceleration rate.
Through this process, the vehicle estimates the distance it can drive and adjusts its maximum torque output. Specifically, the potential vehicle range estimate is based on the accurate measurement of the current weight and speed of the vehicle, enhancing efficiency for commercial use.
For example, when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load, the vehicle automatically informs the driver of the estimated drive range to secure sufficient battery life to reach the destination safely.
Kia Motors has been making a great effort to develop environment-friendly commercial vehicles to contribute to global greenhouse gas reduction. Last year, Kia Motors signed an MOU with the Swiss company H2 Energy to establish a joint venture, Kia Hydrogen Mobility, through which it will provide one thousand heavy duty fuel cell electric trucks for five years.