Toward better drivability: Investigating user preferences for tip-in acceleration profiles in electric vehicles
Seonghyun Kim, Jaesik Yang · 2024 · 3 citationsRead the paper
Vehicle drivability, defined as the smooth operation and stability of a vehicle in response to driver inputs, significantly influences the performance of passenger cars. Among various driving conditions, tip-in acceleration is one of the most frequently encountered and crucial factors affecting drivability. This study investigates preferred longitudinal acceleration profiles for electric vehicles through subjective evaluations obtained from on-road tests. Five distinctive acceleration profiles were designed for tip-in conditions and evaluated by 15 highly experienced experts using the paired comparison method. Evaluations were conducted across three scenarios: light tip-in at 30 km/h, middle tip-in at 30 km/h, and middle tip-in at 60 km/h. Experimental results revealed distinct preferences based on driving conditions. For light tip-in at 30 km/h, drivers favored linear acceleration profiles with smaller jerk magnitudes and kurtosis. Conversely, for middle tip-in conditions at both 30 and 60 km/h, drivers preferred acceleration profiles exhibiting rapid initial acceleration followed by a smooth transition. However, at 60 km/h, a preference for higher jerk and steeper gradients was observed. Correlation analyses provided insights into the relationship between subjective preferences and dynamic characteristics of acceleration profiles. This study contributes practical guidance for designing optimal acceleration profiles aligned with driver preferences, thereby enhancing drivability and overall user experience in electric vehicles.
What the full text shows
Tested in real conditions- At 30 km/h with light tip-in (0.10 g target), drivers prefer linear acceleration profiles with smaller jerk magnitudes and lower kurtosis. (Light tip-in, 30 km/h, 0.10 g target acceleration)
- At 30 km/h with middle tip-in (0.15 g target), drivers prefer rapid initial acceleration followed by a smooth transition. (Middle tip-in, 30 km/h, 0.15 g target acceleration)
- At 60 km/h with middle tip-in (0.10 g target), drivers prefer profiles with higher jerk magnitudes and steeper acceleration gradients. (Middle tip-in, 60 km/h, 0.10 g target acceleration)
- Profile D (linear acceleration) was the most preferred in the light tip-in 30 km/h scenario. — Ability parameter 0.5034 (Light tip-in, 30 km/h)
- Profile B (rapid initial acceleration then smooth progression) was the most preferred in both middle tip-in scenarios. — Ability parameter 0.7853 (30 km/h) and 0.2509 (60 km/h) (Middle tip-in, 30 km/h and 60 km/h)
- Setup
- 15 male drivability experts (10+ years experience); Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (EV mode); three scenarios (30km/h light tip-in, 30km/h middle tip-in, 60km/h middle tip-in).
- How
- The researchers designed five acceleration profiles (A-E) by tuning torque filters and implemented them in a vehicle's ECU. 15 experts performed on-road paired comparison tests across three scenarios, with results analyzed using the Bradley-Terry probabilistic model.
- Limitations
- Participants were exclusively male drivability experts, not representative of the general population. · Tests were conducted in a controlled proving ground environment rather than diverse real-world traffic/weather. · Study focused only on acceleration, excluding braking and handling. · Limited range of experimental driving scenarios.
Summarized by Gemma 4 from the open-access full text · 8 Oct 2026. Read it