A new hybrid system has been developed to increase the permissible system weight and raise dynamic performance/system efficiency for the global rollout of Honda's electric vehicles.
The powertrain consists of a 2.0L direct injection engine, a Front Drive Unit (FDU) with a built-in traction motor/generator and gear that directly transmit engine torque to the wheels (engine driving gear), a Power Control Unit (PCU) mounted on the FDU, and an Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) mounted under the cargo area.
The FDU has a higher RPM (+12%) and higher torque (+6%) traction motor for enhanced launch acceleration performance and maximum vehicle speed settings tailored to regional needs.
In addition, a new engine driving gear for low-speed driving has been added to heighten system efficiency by avoiding traction motor driving in low-speed, high-load areas where electrical losses are high, and instead using a driving mode with an engine driving gear (ENGINE MODE).
In uphill towing, where the conventional system used to use a motor, the ENGINE MODE can suppress the heat generated by the motor, enabling the same towing performance as the conventional system to be provided to heavier vehicle types.
By reducing the diameter of the generator and changing the structure of the traction motor/generator from a coaxial arrangement to a parallel axis arrangement, the system can be installed in the same engine compartment as before while accommodating the addition of engine driving gear.
The development of this powertrain system has achieved a 10% increase in permissible system weight and a 12% increase in maximum vehicle speed.