Enhanced Vehicle Simulation Tool Enables Wider Array of Analyses

New and enhanced versions of NREL's Future Automotive Systems Technology Simulator (FASTSim) are now available for free download in Python and Microsoft Excel formats at www.nrel.gov/fastsim.

FASTSim provides a quick and simple way to compare powertrains and estimate the impact of technology improvements on light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle efficiency, performance, cost, and battery life. It accommodates a range of vehicle types, including conventional vehicles, electric-drive vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles.

"The versions of FASTSim recently posted on the website feature a wider vehicle range capability and updated vehicle models along with the addition of fuel cell vehicles to the roster of vehicle types," said NREL Senior Engineer Aaron Brooker.

FASTSim facilitates large-scale evaluation of vehicle performance under a range of driving conditions. This flexible simulation tool enables researchers to quantify relative energy consumption differences among a variety of vehicle or powertrain alternatives and determine how these differences change in varying driving environments or applications.

FASTSim can perform an assortment of tasks extremely quickly using basic computing resources:

• < 0.1 second to simulate second-by-second standard duty cycles