Concept analysis & system design of a hybrid electric vehicle with virtual test driving

The electrification of automotive powertrains is one of the key factors of meeting the development targets for fuel consumption and emissions. Both with and without the use of plug-in technology, powertrain hybridization assists the internal combustion engine in operating in optimal conditions and enables the recuperation of kinetic energy during braking. The technology thus helps to increase fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust gas emissions, and – depending on the concept – offers the possibility of running in full electric mode to avoid local exhaust emissions without the range limitations of full electric vehicles. Besides these aspects, powertrain electrification offers many possibilities for increasing longitudinal and lateral vehicle dynamics [1]. However, in view of the wide range of variants and concepts of hybrid electric vehicles, finding optimized setups often poses a challenge due to the varying boundary conditions, different cases of application, as well as interdependent vehicle subsystems. In this case, optimization processes and tools assist in finding the best compromise, taking into account all the various constraints.