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An electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT) with integrated electric machines and planetary gears is widely used in the powertrains of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). The e-CVT supports various promising hybrid powertrain designs, blending electric and mechanical drives with high efficiency and flexible energy sources. Identifying the peak performance characteristic of an e-CVT design for a given HEV, however, is a challenging task due to the complexity of hybrid propulsion system and the multi-disciplinary nature of hybrid powertrain design. In this work, model-based design and optimization methods are used to identify the peak synergetic performance of hybrid powertrains with an e-CVT. Four popular HEVs platforms have been studied: the Chevy 2-mode, Chevy Volt, Lexus RX450h, and Toyota Prius.

Advances in battery and hybrid powertrain technology have significantly expanded the automotive design space. In this work, the design process of a new extended range electric vehicle (E-REV) is presented, following the industry standard vehicle development process (VDP). To effectively achieve the design targets, the team developed the project following a model-based design (MBD) approach which is similar to what is used in industrial practice. The design process started from a vehicle technical specification, which defines the required vehicle performance characteristics. Then models were built to exam various design options against the design targets. Improved vehicle performance was demonstrated through model-in-loop (MIL), software-in-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-loop (HIL) simulations.