Experimental testing and simulations of speed variations impact on fuel consumption of conventional gasoline passenger cars

•We activated biological knowledge to apply the human runner concept of speed variations on cars.•We validated in controlled tests driving conditions the Pulse and Glide driving strategy on ICE vehicles.•We proposed a powertrain backward modeling to simulate Pulse and Glide driving conditions.•We made a statistical analysis to check the significance of results.•We selected indicators to make comparisons and discussed results.

Speed variations are considered as an alternative for reducing fuel consumption during the use phase of passenger cars. It explores vehicle engine operating zones with lower fuel consumption, thus making possible a reduction in fuel consumption when compared to constant speed operation. In this paper, we present an evaluation of two conditions of speed variations: 50-70 km/h and 90-110 km/h using numerical simulations and controlled tests. The controlled tests performed on a test track by a professional pilot show that a reduction in fuel consumption is achievable with a conventional gasoline passenger car, with no adaptations for realizing speed variations. Numerical simulations based on a backward quasi-static powertrain model are used to evaluate the potential of speed variations for reducing fuel consumption in other speed variation conditions. When deceleration is performed with gear in neutral position, simulations show that speed variations are always correlated to a lower fuel consumption. This was suspected through previous numerical tests or evaluation on test bench but not in controlled tests conditions.