Search Results (31)

This article presents a gear selection methodology for electric vehicle powertrains employing two identical Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (PMSMs) arranged in a twin-drive configuration. Both machines are coupled through a shared output shaft and operate with coordinated torque–speed characteristics, enabling efficient utilization of the available gear stages. The proposed approach establishes a control-oriented drivetrain framework that incorporates mechanical dynamics together with real-time thermal states and loss mechanisms. Unlike conventional strategies, which rely mainly on static or speed-based shifting rules, the method integrates detailed thermal and electromagnetic loss modeling directly into the gear-shifting logic. By accounting for the dynamic thermal behavior of PMSMs under variable load conditions, the strategy aims to reduce cumulative drivetrain losses, including electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical, while maintaining high efficiency. The methodology is implemented in a MATLAB/Simulink R2024a and LabVIEW 2024Q2 co-simulation environment, where thermal feedback and instantaneous efficiency metrics dynamically guide gear selection. Simulation results demonstrate measurable improvements in energy utilization, particularly under transient operating conditions. The resulting efficiency maps are broader and flatter, as the motors’ operating points are continuously shifted toward zones of optimal performance through adaptive gear ratio control. The novelty of this work lies in combining real-time loss modeling, thermal feedback, and coordinated gear management in a twin-motor system, validated through experimentally motivated efficiency maps. The findings highlight a scalable and dynamic control framework suitable for advanced electric vehicle architectures, supporting intelligent efficiency-oriented drivetrain strategies that enhance sustainability, thermal management, and system performance across diverse operating conditions. Full article

The complexity and shortening of development cycles in the automotive industry, particularly with the rise in hybrid electric vehicle sales, increases the need for efficient calibration and testing methods. Virtualization using hardware-in-the-loop testbenches has the potential to counteract these trends, specifically for the calibration of hybrid operating strategies. This paper presents a dynamic closed-loop validation of a hardware-in-the-loop testbench designed for the virtual calibration of hybrid operating strategies for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Requirements regarding the hardware-in-the-loop testbench accuracy are defined based on the investigated use case. From this, a dedicated hardware-in-the-loop testbench setup is derived, including an electrical setup as well as a plant simulation model. The model is then operated in a closed loop with a series production hybrid control unit. The closed-loop validation results demonstrate that the chassis simulation reproduces driving resistance closely aligning with the reference data. The driver model follows target speed profiles within acceptable limits, achieving an R² = 0.9993, comparable to the R² reached by trained human drivers. The transmission model replicates the gear ratios, maintaining rotational speed deviations below 30 min⁻¹. Furthermore, the shift strategy is implemented in a virtual control unit, resulting in a gear selection comparable to reference measurements. The energy flow simulation in the complete powertrain achieves high accuracy. Deviations in the high-voltage battery state of charge remain below 50 Wh in a WLTC charge-sustaining drive cycle and are thus within the acceptable error margin. The net energy change criterion is satisfied with the hardware-in-the-loop testbench, achieving a net energy change of 0.202%, closely matching the reference measurement of 0.159%. Maximum deviations in cumulative high-voltage battery energy are proven to be below 10% in both the charging and discharging directions. Fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions are modeled with deviations below 3%, validating the simulation’s representation of vehicle efficiency. Real-time capability is achieved under all investigated operating conditions and test scenarios. The testbench achieves a real-time factor of at least 1.104, ensuring execution within the hard real-time criterion. In conclusion, the closed-loop validation confirms that the developed hardware-in-the-loop testbench satisfies all predefined requirements, accurately simulating the behavior of the reference vehicle. Full article

In this paper, a variable gear ratio for active steering systems with a double planetary gear configuration is presented to optimize the steering performance of commercial vehicles. First, a variable transmission ratio system with a dual-row planetary gear mechanism is developed in ADAMS/Car, where the steering mechanism’s transmission ratio can be adjusted according to different driving conditions, thereby improving the vehicle’s stability and sensitivity. Second, a new type of dual-inverter permanent magnet synchronous motor (DPMSM) has been designed to solve the power limitation problem in the electric drive steering of commercial vehicles. Finally, the step steering and lane change driving scenarios are chosen for co-simulation using ADAMS/Car and MATLAB to evaluate the proposed method’s effectiveness. The co-simulation results show that the proposed variable transmission ratio and control strategy can effectively improve the steering sensitivity and stability of commercial vehicles. Full article

Single-gear-ratio plug-in hybrid vehicles (SRPHEVs) are favored by major manufacturers due to their excellent energy-saving potential, simple structure, ease of maintenance and control, great cost-saving potential, and the benefits of vehicle lightweighting. Implementing an energy management strategy (EMS) is the key to realizing the energy-saving potential of PHEVs. In this paper, based on a newly developed coaxial configuration, P1-P3 SRPHEV, with the purpose of reducing PHEV fuel consumption, the advantages of various methods were synthesized. An improved intelligent optimization algorithm, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, was used to find the optimal rule-based strategy parameters. The PSO algorithm could be easily adjusted to the parameters and obtains the desired results quickly. Different long-distance speed profiles tested under real-world driving cycle (RDC) conditions were used to validate the fuel savings. And an energy flow analysis was conducted to further investigate the reasons for the algorithm optimization. The results show that the optimization plans of the PSO algorithm in different cycle conditions can improve the equivalent fuel consumption of vehicles in different long-distance conditions. Considering the optimization effect of the equivalent fuel consumption and actual fuel consumption, the best case of the equivalent fuel consumption is improved by 2.98%, and the actual fuel consumption is improved by 2.37%. Through the energy flow analysis, it is found that the energy-saving effect of the optimization plan lies in the following principle: lowering the parallel mode switching threshold to increase the parallel mode usage time and to reduce the fuel–mechanical–electrical transmission path loss, resulting in increasing the energy utilization of the whole vehicle. Full article

The hybrid system can extend the range of special vehicles and meet the electrical requirements of on-board equipment. In this paper, the driving force plummet problem of a new two-gear power-split hybrid system was studied during gear switches in a hybrid mode. The dynamic model of a hybrid electric system was established, and the effects of the engine angular acceleration and angular jerk on vehicle power and ride performance were obtained. The optimal ratio of the torque change rate of the motor and engine in the mode switch process was proposed. Considering the battery limitation and the external characteristics of the engine, the method of determining the target speed of the engine during shifting was proposed. Considering the response characteristics of each power source, the dynamic coordinated control strategy of multiple power sources in the mode switch process was proposed. The vehicle dynamics model was established based on the Matlab/Simulink 2020b and verified by simulation and a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test. The results show that the dynamic coordinated control strategy can reduce the peak impact by 80.33%, effectively improve the vehicle power and ride performance, and prevent the occurrence of high-current battery charging. Full article

An electrified vehicle equipped with a stepped-ratio transmission and clutch(es) requires precise control of the clutch actuator(s) and power sources to achieve optimal gear shift performance, which is characterized by smooth and swift gear shifts. Owing to the absence of the smoothing effect of torque converters, dual-clutch transmission (DCT) powertrains are prone to inducing abrupt shift shocks—particularly during rapid clutch-to-clutch shifts. Balancing the smoothness and speed of shifts is a significant challenge and was the key focus of this study. Multiple experiments and model-based analyses were conducted to investigate the tradeoff between smoothness and shift time during the clutch-to-clutch shifts of a parallel-type hybrid electric vehicle with a dry DCT. Additionally, the adverse effects of inaccurate power-source control on shift quality were experimentally investigated. The results revealed the primary physical factors in terms of control causing torsional driveline oscillations in clutch-to-clutch shifts. According to these observations, a detailed quantitative guide including how to generate reference trajectories for shift control is proposed, with the aim of reducing the driveline torsional vibrations without compromising the shift time. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy was demonstrated through real-time experiments on an electrified powertrain with a DCT using a dedicated test bench. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing the shift performance of electrified vehicles—particularly for managing torsional vibrations during clutch-to-clutch shifts. Full article

To improve energy utilization efficiency and extend the driving range of electric vehicles, this paper proposes a Dual-Motor Coupled Drive System (DMCDS) with a simple structure and establishes a dynamic mathematical model to analyze power flow characteristics under different driving modes. Considering the interdependence between the optimization of component sizes and system control in multi-motor drive systems, a two-layer hybrid optimization method is proposed to determine the optimal component sizes, balancing vehicle performance with minimal system energy losses. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed optimization design method, extensive simulation analysis was carried out in MATLAB. The results demonstrate that the optimization of motor sizes and gear ratios can enhance the energy efficiency of the drive system. In comparison with prototype scheme before optimization, the high-efficiency region utilization of motors EM_R and EM_S increased by 45% and 48%, respectively. Compared with the prototype and single-motor drive system, the average drive efficiency after optimization increased by 2.5% and 4.2%, respectively, and the energy consumption per 100 km decreased by 3.6% and 6.8%, respectively. These results confirm the efficacy of the proposed optimization design method in achieving an energy-saving effect. Full article

The paper proposes a power flow control strategy for a P2 parallel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which takes into account torque and power losses related to engine-on and gear shift transients. An extended backward-looking (EXT-BWD) model is proposed to account for the transient losses, while the control strategy combines a rule-based controller with an equivalent consumption minimization strategy. To describe the transient losses, the EXT-BWD model includes additional state variables related to engine on/off flag and gear ratio in the previous time step. To establish a performance benchmark for control strategy verification, a dynamic programming-based control variable optimization framework is established based on the EXT-BWD model. The proposed control strategy is demonstrated to improve the fuel efficiency and drivability compared to the original control strategy while retaining comparable computational efficiency. Full article

A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle with two or more power sources. We propose a hybrid system in which the engine torque converted by the transmission is combined with an electric motor torque. The proposed system reduces transmission because engine torque only acts during transmission. Furthermore, the proposed hybrid system’s simple structure uses lightweight chains and sprockets that can be laid out in various ways. The realization of the proposed hybrid system requires independent control algorithms for the two power systems, engine and electric motor, that take into consideration the state of the vehicle and the driver’s input; this system can be assumed to be a servo model system with multiple inputs and outputs and analyzed to obtain the optimal operation algorithm. To apply these controls to race cars, which are required to be fast, it is necessary to obtain the reference input, which is the optimal velocity and yaw angle while traveling the course of the servo system, and simulations of the competition track must be carried out. Therefore, the dynamic performance of the hybrid system was investigated by calculating the lap times on a given circuit using a quasi-steady-state method with low computational load and high prediction accuracy. In this study, the effects of changing the electric motor and final gear ratios on the driving performance of a rear-wheel-drive parallel hybrid system for optimization were investigated. The simulation results show that not only can the optimum settings be obtained by changing the final and electric motor reduction ratios on the evaluation circuit, but also that the optimum values vary across different speed ranges on different circuits. Full article

This paper introduces a new two-speed planetary gear automatic transmission using an electronically controlled wedge clutch. In order to verify the feasibility of using this transmission in pure electric vehicles, the influencing factors of the two-speed transmission due to the increase in mass and the reduction in transmission efficiency are introduced. The vehicle simulation model was established on the MATLAB/Simulink platform, and the dynamic programming method was used to optimize the transmission ratio and shifting law. The simulation results show that the use of a two-speed automatic transmission can effectively improve the economic performance and dynamic performance of battery electric vehicles. Full article

Innovative wheelchair designs require new means of controlling the drive units or the propulsion transmission systems. The article proposes a signal to control the gear ratio or the amount of additional propulsion torque coming from an electric motor. The innovative control signal in this application is the signal generated by the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the muscles of the upper limbs, transformed by the central processing unit (CPU) into muscle activity (MA) when using a wheelchair. The paper includes research on eight muscles of the upper limbs that are active when propelling a wheelchair. Asymmetry in the value for MVC was found between the left and right limbs, while the belly of the long radial extensor muscle of the wrist was determined to be the muscle with the least asymmetry for the users under study. This pilot research demonstrates that the difference in mean MVC_max values between the left and the right limbs can range from 20% to 49%, depending on the muscle being tested. The finding that some muscle groups demonstrate less difference in MVC values suggests that it is possible to design systems for regulating the gear ratio or additional propelling force based on the MVC signal from the muscle of one limb, as described in the patent application from 2022, no. P.440187. Full article

The market for electric vehicles is growing rapidly. Among them, the demand for a dual motor type 4 WD (Four -Wheel Driving) system is increasing. In this paper, we present the Torque Matching Strategy (TMS) method to select the optimal torque distribution ratio for dual motors. The TMS controller operates to set the optimal efficiency point by linearizing the drive efficiency combination of the two motors. Driving simulation and testing were performed through five drive cycles in the driver model interworking environment implemented in MATLAB and Carsim. The optimal distribution ratio was derived according to the front and rear gear ratios under the load condition, and the driving was verified by comparing it with the TMS control method. The efficiency was numerically verified by comparing the power loss of the driving motor. It reduced up to 34% in Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule and up to 56.3% in Highway fuel efficiency test. The effectiveness of the TMS control method was demonstrated through the distribution rate trend based on the operation cycle and power loss. Full article

The degree of autonomy of a battery-powered mobile device depends, among others, on the efficient use of energy by the powered devices. Using an example of electric drive systems of an orthotic robot, the authors present a method of reducing the energy demand of these systems by using a gear with a controlled ratio. The gear ratios are selected on the basis of special graphs illustrating the instantaneous energy consumption during drive operations. The simulation studies proved a possibility of achieving energy savings during the implementation of the robotic functions of the robot as high as 50%. The article presents the course and results of the research as well as the concept of their use while designing electric drive systems for mobile devices. Full article

This study aims to design, develop, and evaluate the traction performance of an electric all-wheel-drive (AWD) tractor based on the power transmission and electric systems. The power transmission system includes the electric motor, helical gear reducer, planetary gear reducer, and tires. The electric system consists of a battery pack and charging system. An engine-generator and charger are installed to supply electric energy in emergency situations. The load measurement system consists of analog (current) and digital (battery voltage and rotational speed of the electric motor) components using a controller area network (CAN) bus. A traction test of the electric AWD tractor was performed towing a test vehicle. The output torques of the tractor motors during the traction test were calculated using the current and torque curves provided by the motor manufacturer. The agricultural work performance is verified by comparing the torque and rpm (T–N) curve of the motor with the reduction ratio applied. The traction is calculated using torque and specifications of the wheel, and traction performance is evaluated using tractive efficiency (TE) and dynamic ratio (DR). The results suggest a direction for the improvement of the electric drive system in agricultural research by comparison with the conventional tractor through the analysis of the agricultural performance and traction performance of the electric AWD tractor. Full article

The Power-Split Continuously Variable Transmission is one of the most promising architectures for Hybrid Electric Vehicles. These systems have been introduced to improve vehicle global efficiency since they can maximize the efficiency in varying operating conditions. During the design stage, the availability of modeling tools would play a key role in achieving optimal design and control of these architectures. In this work, a compound power split device that combines an electric Continuously Variable Transmission with two planetary gear trains is analyzed. A comprehensive model is derived that allows the different power flow configurations to be evaluated given the properties of the single subcomponents of the system. The efficiency of the powertrain can be derived as well, and a numerical example is provided. The architecture studied has an efficiency that can be higher than that obtained using one single eCVT for most of the global transmission ratio range, showing that this solution could be suitable as a part of a more complex compound transmission that engages in a specific speed range. Full article