Comparison of Footrest Vibrations in the Case of an ICE-Based and Battery-Based Two-Wheeler †

The current work investigates the comfort of two-wheeler riders and compares the footrest vibration between an internal combustion-engine-based and electric two-wheeler. The Retrofit Hero Honda CD-100 two-wheeler is considered for the study and is further converted into the electric mode in the laboratory. Electric two-wheelers, even though they have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine-based two-wheelers, encounter vibrations that emerge from road excitations. Cracks, potholes, and irregular humps on the road are the major influencers of these vibrations. These vibrations, when they transfer to the human body, have been reported to cause major injuries to the human body in the long run. By performing several trials on actual road conditions, with both the rider as well as pillion, the vibration dose value is calculated at the footrest. Different scenarios, such as a random speed test, a 20 kmph speed test and a 30 kmph speed test, are conducted on the two-wheeler. The vibration dose value (VDV) method is used to analyze the rider’s comfort. A comparison is made between the internal combustion engine-based and electric-based two-wheeler to determine its comfort level at the footrest. It is found that the VDV as well as the RMS acceleration decreased considerably in the case of the electric two-wheeler when compared to the internal combustion engine-based vehicle. However, it is found that as the speed is increased, the vibrations increased as well. Hence, further scope is found for the improvement and inculcation of vibration damping at the locations where the vibrations are pronounced in order to improve the overall riding experience of a two-wheeler rider.