An Open-Source Reduced-Scale Test Bench for Flywheel-Assisted Regenerative Braking in Electric Vehicles

This repository provides the open-source resources associated with the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of a low-cost, reduced-scale test bench for investigating flywheel-assisted regenerative braking in electric vehicles. The experimental platform consists of two direct-current (DC) motor-generators coupled to interchangeable steel discs that represent vehicle-equivalent inertia and flywheel energy storage. A configurable power circuit incorporating electromechanical relays, MOSFET-based switching stages, and a DC–DC boost converter enables the investigation of different operating modes, including freewheeling, regenerative braking, dynamic braking, and battery-assisted braking. An Arduino Nano microcontroller performs operating-mode selection, speed measurement, battery-voltage and current acquisition, and communication with a host computer. The repository includes mechanical design files, electrical schematics and PCB design resources, firmware, component information, and experimental data supporting the reported proof-of-concept evaluation using a scaled and temporally extended reference derived from the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS). The platform is intended as an accessible and reconfigurable experimental environment for developing, implementing, and comparing braking-control and energy-management strategies. Its modular design also supports the investigation of different inertia configurations and future extensions involving alternative energy-storage technologies. The estimated component cost of the test bench is approximately USD 310. These resources are shared to facilitate reproducibility, educational use, independent validation, and further development in regenerative braking and hybrid energy-storage research. Associated publication: An Open-Source Reduced-Scale Test Bench for Flywheel-Assisted Regenerative Braking in Electric Vehicles.