For the new Electric L-category vehicle demonstrator, developed by KTM Technologies GmbH, we contribute innovative HMI concepts as well as novel input modalities. The aim is to improve driver experience, usability, and driving range through the use of intelligent on-board information systems, such as providing live recommendations and coaching for eco-friendly and energy-saving driving styles.

A significant contribution to eco-friendly, i.e. energy efficient riding, comes from the rider. The decision on when and how to accelerate or whether to make use of regenerative braking or not is influencing the energy consumption trip by trip. It is important to notice that it is not about unnaturalistic slow riding on public roads, but the given boundaries of public traffic provide the opinion to save energy. One major aim within EMotion was to provide an Eco Coaching system that supports riders in doing so by providing tutorials prior to riding, real-time recommendations and feedback after certain maneuvers.

In a study conducted on the electric scooter riding simulator this Eco Coaching system has been investigated with 31 participants. The results showed more than 10 % energy savings with the Eco Coaching as compared to a control group without support on the same 30 minutes test ride. Riders with assistance e.g., rode slower and sailed more often than the control group. This is also valid for sections without riding recommendations indicating that the lessons learned were generalized to other scenarios without recommendation. Importantly, the acceptance of and satisfaction with the Eco Coaching system was on a high level. Besides the important results on the general effectiveness of the designed Eco Coaching system, a lot was learned through the user feedback on usability resulting in the latest human-machine-interface (HMI) designs which shall be implemented on the demo vehicles.

MiL-Team @ unibz

Niccolò Pretto (Team Lead), Marco Sciacovelli, Lisa Mussner, Michael Haller