Simplified Hybrid Transmission with Range-Extender Characteristics Enabling combustion based long-distance driving with only one electric machine

摘要

For realizing the goal of affordable e-mobility, a powertrain architecture is presented which is characterized by its functional but simple mechanical structure and the use of only one electric machine. The transmission architecture enables the equivalent comfort and performance levels as a battery electric vehicle, but with the capability of an increased range. A compact electrified gearbox was created based on an analysis of hybrid powertrain architectures and by considering the anticipated customer expectations. The hybrid architecture can be successfully implemented in vehicles, which are mostly used in urban areas. Additionally, the system enables these vehicles to cover long driving distances and high speeds efficiently due to the direct mechanical drive of the internal combustion engine to the front wheels. This means the known weaknesses of serial hybrid architectures are avoided. The drive configuration offers multi-gear all-electric operation over the complete speed range. The combination of an electric machine and an internal combustion engine enables a large part of the operational map of conventionally-powered vehicles to be covered in hybrid operation. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine can be operated in several gears as a direct drive, and, driving comfort can reach standards close to an automatic transmission despite of the simplicity of the transmission. These approaches are discussed and are presented in comparison with the known P2 hybrid architecture.