Emulating handling characteristics with an electric vehicle

A system for controlling an electric vehicle, the system comprising:

• one or more electric motors in mechanical communication with a first rear wheel on a first side of the electric vehicle and a second rear wheel on a second side of the electric vehicle;
• an electric steering system in mechanical communication with one or more front wheels of the electric vehicle;
• and
• a controller in electrical communication with the one or more electric motors and the electric steering system, wherein the controller is programmed to:
• adjust an operation of the one or more electric motors of the electric vehicle to induce a loss of traction of the first rear wheel;
• and
• adjust an operation of the electric steering system of the electric vehicle to induce a yaw motion of the electric vehicle, wherein a direction of the yaw motion is away from the first side of the electric vehicle.

A method for controlling an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

• identifying a launch state of the electric vehicle;
• adjusting an operation of one or more electric motors of the electric vehicle to induce a loss of traction of a first rear wheel of the electric vehicle on a first side of the electric vehicle during an acceleration time period in response to identifying the launch state;
• adjusting an operation of an electric steering system of the electric vehicle to induce a yaw motion of the electric vehicle during the acceleration time period in response to identifying the launch state, wherein a direction of the yaw motion is away from the first side of the electric vehicle;
• increasing a slip threshold of a traction control system of the electric vehicle for the first rear wheel during the acceleration time period;
• and
• adjusting a torque-speed curve of the one or more electric motors during the acceleration time period based at least in part on a reference torque-speed curve obtained from a reference vehicle having an internal combustion engine.