SIAR Congress, CAR 2026

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Evaluating Propulsion Latencies and Human Behavior: A Driver-in-the-Loop Comparative Study
Levente Daniel Nagy, Călin Iclodean, Dan David

Last modified: 2026-07-16

Abstract


The transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to hybrid (HEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV) alters the interaction between driver and vehicle, particularly due to differences in torque delivery. This paper proposes a virtual testing methodology using the IPG CarMaker environment, integrating the Driver-in-the-Loop (DiL) concept to evaluate the impact of these architectural differences on maneuverability. To ensure comparative validity, the study uses three vehicle models from equivalent segments, selected from the simulator's pre-validated model library, having similar dimensional characteristics and masses. The direct comparison between the behavior of an ideal virtual driver (IPGDriver) and a human driver highlights how the specific latencies of each architecture affect control. Unlike the delayed response of an ICE, the instantaneous torque delivery of a BEV generates major differences in accelerator pedal modulation. The methodology addresses four interconnected aspects: longitudinal dynamics analysis, comfort evaluation through acceleration variation (jerk) analysis, controllability in unexpected maneuvers, and energy consumption variations induced by human imperfections. Simulation results highlight the difficulty real drivers face in precisely controlling acceleration in BEVs, generating an increased level of jerk compared to the optimized model. The paper demonstrates the necessity of DiL simulations for calibrating control systems, facilitating user adaptation to new technologies.