Conceptual Powertrain Components Matching for a Hybrid Electric Vehicle with a Single Clutch-Coupled Traction Motor

Electrification of powertrain system for motored vehicles is one of the most important strategies being taken by many automakers to meet the stringent CO₂ reduction required by laws in many countries, the marketplace-driven ownership cost reduction request, and the social and political energy sustainability needs. A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) concept, having an electrified powertrain system comprising an internal combustion engine (ICE), a transmission with multiple discrete gear ratios, and a single electric motor with a coupling clutch is being implemented at FAW R&D to meet the strict Chinese Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) target. To specify the components of the parallel hybrid electric powertrain, a design of experiment (DOE) is conducted to calculate the sensitivities of the fuel efficiency to the specifications of key components, such as types of the ICE and number of gear ratios of the transmission, in different drive cycles. A prototype build based on the powertrain design concept is planned for dynamometer testing to confirm the fuel economy potential for a follow-up development program of the HEV.