EV Dictionary: Vehicle Dynamics

Active Roll Stabilization

Active roll stabilization uses powered actuators to create or vary anti-roll torque.

Anti-Dive and Anti-Squat

Anti-dive and anti-squat route longitudinal tire forces to alter body pitch through suspension geometry.

Anti-Roll Bar

An anti-roll bar is a torsion spring linking the left and right suspension to resist differential motion.

Body Motions: Heave, Pitch, and Roll

Heave, pitch, and roll describe vertical translation and rotation of the vehicle body.

Compression and Rebound Damping

Compression and rebound damping oppose damper motion in the two directions of suspension travel.

Elastokinematics and Compliance Steer

Elastokinematics describes force-driven suspension deformation; compliance steer is its steer response.

Roll Center

A roll center is a suspension-analysis reference linking lateral force paths and body roll.

Spring Rate

Spring-rate curves show how suspension support stiffness changes with component deflection.

Sprung Mass

Body, battery, occupants, and cargo form most of the mass carried by the suspension.

Suspension Motion Ratio

Suspension motion ratio relates wheel movement to spring, damper, or linkage movement.

Suspension Travel: Bump and Rebound

Suspension travel spans compression and extension, with wheel and component strokes separated by geometry.

Unsprung Mass

Unsprung mass is the effective mass that moves mainly with the road side of the suspension.

Wheel Rate

Wheel rate expresses effective vertical suspension stiffness at the tire after linkage effects.