Neural network controller for hybrid energy management system applied to electric vehicles

Hybrid energy storage systems based on batteries and supercapacitors can mitigate the aging of electric vehicle batteries aging by avoiding high currents and rapid discharge cycles. This system requires energy management systems that efficiently split the power during real driving cycles. This paper outlines a design methodology for creating a Multilayer Perceptron neural controller that governs the power distribution between the storage system components. In parallel, a Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller was implemented to ensure voltage regulation in the primary DC bus, ensuring stable operation of the entire system and providing flexibility to the neural design. The controller was tuned using particle swarm optimization, hippopotamus optimization, and differential evolution algorithms, designed to minimize the battery root-mean-square current in a comprehensive vehicle simulation. The training was structured into layers to approach the physical problem and controller optimization facets. The controller’s primary goal is to minimize the battery strain, mitigating stress events and prolonging its lifespan. The energy management neural controller was designed using a simple drive cycle and later validated with a realistic cycle. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of achieving a significant reduction in current, both in peak value and on average, especially when compared to basic energy management strategies. The process uncovered a strategy that prioritizes the use of the supercapacitor in power balance, with this effect being more pronounced during critical load events. The main bus voltage remained stable, with no deviations exceeding 5%, owing to the voltage regulator’s stability. Additionally, the particle swarm optimization and the hippopotamus optimization techniques exhibited notable performance compared to the differential evolution algorithm for this problem. Subsequently, the design was evaluated in a more complex cycle, revealing a slight decrease in average battery current performance. However, it still maintained a significant reduction in peak battery current compared to traditional controllers. Nevertheless, this methodology demonstrated power management optimization efficacy and can be extended to more complex scenarios.