Optimal Design of Automotive Hybrid Powertrain Systems

Alternative powertrains for automotive applications aim at improving emissions and fuel economy. Lack of experience with these relatively new technologies makes them ideal applications for computer-based modeling and simulation studies. There is a variety of configurations, control strategies, and design variable choices that can be made. If mathematical models exist, rigorous optimization techniques can be used to explore the design space. This paper provides an overview of a design environment for alternative powertrains that has these characteristics: modularity, allowing a system to be built by combining components; flexibility, allowing different levels of fidelity and different existing codes to be used; and, rigor, since it is based on mathematical methods of decision making. A simple application to a hybrid diesel-electric powertrain is included.