EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Electrified Powertrain System, Design, and Integration

This paper investigates the methodology for the specification, design, simulation, and testing of a hybrid electrified parallel-through-the-road drivetrain for the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. The performance of the prototype electric rear powertrain in terms of space optimization, mechanical robustness and vehicle fuel economy is proposed in this paper. Overview of the powertrain component design and performance simulation data is presented to validate the proposed design methodology. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is conducted to assess the reliability and robustness of the proposed electric vehicle powertrain architecture. The addition of the rear electric powertrain shows a simulated 20% reduction in vehicle combined fuel consumption as compared to the stock vehicle. Two in-vehicle drive tests were carried out over two driving scenarios, a combined city-biased drive test, and a combined highway-biased drive test. These road tests showed the latter scenario to have a 3 miles per gallon (MPG) greater fuel economy than the former.