Electrification Strategy for Larger Size Light-Duty Vehicles for Improvement of Fuel Economy and Cost Effectiveness

Electrification has been considered one of the major solutions to meet stringent U.S. fuel economy and CO₂ targets of 2025. Numerous published researches are mainly focused on improving fuel economy for passenger cars, but less has been done for larger size light-duty vehicles, such as pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans, which contribute to a considerable amount of vehicle sales in the U.S. market. Due to larger vehicle size and different usage profile, it is expected that the ideal electrification architecture is different than that of a passenger car. The purpose of this study is to identify potential low-voltage electrification solutions for an existing class 2 pickup truck for fuel economy improvement, while taking into account cost effectiveness for large market penetration. One of the potential solutions is presented. In this paper, vehicle electrification configuration concepts are examined by computer simulations. A design of experiment (DOE) is conducted to specify electric powertrain components for each configuration concept. Simulation models are analyzed on two different standard cycles: Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) and Highway Fuel Economy Test (HWFET). Simulation results are then validated.