Title: Performance simulations of a low-cost hybrid powertrain with large fuel savings

Authors: Koos Van Berkel; Theo Hofman; Maarten Steinbuch; Luc Römers; Bas Vroemen

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands ' Drivetrain Innovations, Croy 46, 5653 LD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands ' Drivetrain Innovations, Croy 46, 5653 LD, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper presents a new design of a low-cost mechanical hybrid powertrain with large fuel savings. The hybrid powertrain contains only low-cost mechanical components, such as a compact flywheel module and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). No electrical motor/generator or battery is used. On the basis of the characteristics of typical driving cycles, the energy storage capacity of the flywheel module is derived accordingly. The fuel-saving potential of the new powertrain is simulated for a compact passenger vehicle, which represents the aimed vehicle segment in emerging markets. Simulations show that the fuel-saving potential, with respect to the same vehicle without flywheel module, ranges in between 15% and 29%, depending on the considered driving cycle.

Keywords: hybrid powertrains; CVT; continuously variable transmission; ?ywheel; performance simulation; fuel savings; low-cost components; mechanical components; passenger vehicles; emerging markets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPT.2012.049629

International Journal of Powertrains, 2012 Vol.1 No.4, pp.377 - 395

Received: 04 Aug 2010
Accepted: 01 May 2011
Published online: 05 Dec 2014 *

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