Trade-Off Results and Preliminary Designs of Near-Term Hybrid Vehicles

Phase I of the Near-Term Hybrid Vehicle Program involved the development of preliminary designs of electric/heat engine hybrid passenger vehicles by four contractors. The preliminary designs were developed on the basis of mission analysis, performance specification, and design trade-off studies conducted independently by the four contractors. The resulting designs all involve parallel hybrid (heat engine/electric) propulsion systems but provide significant variation in component selection, power train layout, and control strategy. Each of the four designs is projected by its developer as having potential to substitute electrical energy 40% to 70% of the petroleum fuel consumed annually by its conventional counterpart.