Drive Cycle Performance of Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Three different hybrid-electric powertrains; Series, Parallel and Combined have been simulated on ADVISOR using MATLAB platform. Three drive cycles, Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS); New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and Highway Fuel Economy Cycle (HWFEC), were used to determine best Fuel Economy, Overall System Efficiency and Energy usage for each Powertrain. While Parallel Powertrain showed best fuel economy and system efficiency at lower speeds (20mph) during frequent start-stops, combined hybrid showed much more significant fuel savings at constant speeds above 48mph. In situations where both battery and engine power were required simultaneously, combined hybrid showed much higher system efficiency giving credence to its Power Split device. In conclusion, Powertrain for Hybrid Electric application depends strictly on the application. The results highlight the need for a Powertrain which effectively saves fuel at all speeds irrespective of number of idle times or stops.