Title: Review of patented hybrid powertrain technologies for commercial vehicles in the USA

Authors: Xubin Song

Addresses: Hefei University of Technology, 193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230009, China

Abstract: In the automotive industry, hybridisation is a growing indispensable technology to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions for passenger cars and other light-duty vehicles. However, from the perspective of the commercial vehicles, the hybrid technology achieves a very limited success only in some niche applications such as buses and delivery trucks, even though for decades hybrid powertrains have been developed relentlessly for commercial vehicles. Looking into 2024 and beyond, the GHG and emission regulation will become stricter. Now it is a right time to re-visit those patented hybrid technologies dedicated for medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) trucks. This paper intends to survey those patents approved in US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The review can help interested parties to better understand the status quo of the hybrid technologies for commercial vehicles as well as the trend for the coming decade.

Keywords: patent; hybrid powertrain; MHD; commercial vehicle; truck; USA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPT.2022.127860

International Journal of Powertrains, 2022 Vol.11 No.4, pp.303 - 328

Received: 09 Nov 2021
Accepted: 10 Nov 2021
Published online: 20 Dec 2022 *

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