Although active suspension improved vehicle ride comfort, their two main drawbacks are the required high component costs and energy input levels for active suspension. The semi-active and twin accumulator suspensions are proposed which addresses these two drawbacks. Ride performances for passive, twin accumulator and semi-active are examined theoretically using half vehicle model. The power consumed in rolling resistance and power dissipation in suspension for passive, twin accumulator and semi-active suspension systems are evaluated. The effect of road disturbance on the vehicle ride performance for twin accumulator and semi-active suspension systems is studied. The rolling resistance power losses are also investigated. The results showed that the optimum twin accumulator suspension system over all road roughness/speed conditions would have adaptable spring stiffness and damping coefficients which could be changed depending on the road conditions. Semi-active suspension systems already achieve part of this requirement by providing a limited choice of damper setting. The percentage of power dissipation in suspension relative to power consumed in rolling resistance for semi active suspension system is higher than that obtained for twin accumulator and passive system. The rolling resistance power losses are discussed.
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