Accelerated assessment of optimal fuel economy benchmarks for developing the next generation HEVs

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are forecasted remarkably spreading in the global vehicle market over the next years due to their capability of reducing fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions while simultaneously tackling current limitations for on-board storable electrical energy [1]. Nevertheless, design procedures and sizing methodologies for HEV powertrains are consistently complicated compared to both battery electric vehicles (BEVs)that are powered by electric motors solely, and conventional vehicles that are powered by internal combustion engines (ICEs) solely [2]. Difficulties in HEV powertrain design and sizing relate both to the amount of power components embedded (i.e. one ICE, one or multiple electric motor/generators (MGs), a high-voltage battery, dedicated power electronics) and the necessity of a related proper energy management strategy (EMS) [3].