Simulation and design of a kit for the electrification of a light tricycle truck

Light tricycle trucks represent a diffused kind of vehicle in urban areas in Asia, Africa and South America. Tricycle offers a cheap and agile solution for transportation of goods in crowded urban areas. Despite to its diffusion, electrification of this kind of vehicles have been neglected by large industrial groups since it involves low margin of profit respect to upgraded vehicles. However, electrification of tricycles should be important for a world sustainable growth. A simple and cheap electrification kit is proposed in this study. Proposed solution can be used to upgrade existing vehicles with limited investments. An APE Piaggio, a widely diffused vehicle is considered as benchmark test case. Vehicle dynamics is modelled in order to optimise various aspects related to installation, and weight distribution. Particular attention is paid to optimisation of regenerative braking and its blending with mechanical one to maximise autonomy and to preserve vehicle stability.