Search Results

The constant pressure on reducing fuel consumption and emissions in cost sensitive automotive markets has brought focus on retrofit HEV solutions. Through retrofit mechanism, existing conventional (solely engine powered) vehicles can be quickly converted into HEVs. However, the retrofit HEV, although cost effective, poses challenges in developing strategies to control the motor for a given fuel economy, emissions, drivability, battery life requirements and driver inputs. These challenges are primarily due to non-availability of calibration data from the OEMs. This paper focuses on the benefits and challenges with design, tuning and performance of MPC based supervisory controller against a conventional one for a retrofit HEV, using practical data in simulation environment. The inherent characteristics of MPC will lead to the choice of best possible inputs, while respecting the constraints.