Title: Hybrid electric powertrains: current status, future trends, and electro-mechanical integration methods

Authors: Piranavan Suntharalingam; Ali Emadi; Mengyang Zhang

Addresses: McMaster Institute for Automotive Research and Technology (MacAUTO), McMaster University, 200 Longwood Road South, MARC 207, Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 0A6, Canada ' McMaster Institute for Automotive Research and Technology (MacAUTO), McMaster University, 200 Longwood Road South, MARC 207, Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 0A6, Canada ' Eaton Aerospace Group, 50 Jeronimo Rd., Irvine, CA 92618, USA

Abstract: Hybrid electric/electric vehicles are gaining momentum in the automotive industry. Achieving fuel energy efficiency without compromising performance targets are key challenges in this research and development area. This topic includes multidisciplinary subjects and the primary research and development areas can be categorised into the following systems: electrical propulsion, electrical power, energy storage, mechanical propulsion, mechanical transmission, thermal management, power electronics, and control. This paper focuses on addressing different electromechanical propulsion system integration methods. This review is divided into seven different sections, the first is an introduction to understand the reasons why new technologies should emerge in the automotive industry. Second, the primary differences and the advantages of hybrid powertrains are analysed. Vital issues on designing different hybrid powertrain systems are addressed in the third section. Following that, different hybrid powertrain topologies are analysed for various application requirements. Issues related to regenerative braking are highlighted in Section 5. Section 6 describes different electro mechanical propulsion system integration methods and compares hybrid powertrain topologies available in the market. The last section addresses directions for improvement in developing advanced hybrid powertrain systems for automotive applications.

Keywords: hybrid electric vehicles; HEVs; hybrid powertrains; propulsion systems; electro-mechanical propulsion; hybrid vehicles; regenerative braking.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPT.2014.064330

International Journal of Powertrains, 2014 Vol.3 No.3, pp.319 - 349

Received: 02 Apr 2013
Accepted: 21 Sep 2013

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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