Technical Paper
Fuel Economy and Performance Comparison of Alternative Mechanical Hybrid Powertrain Configurations
2008-04-14
2008-01-0083
Hybrid vehicles provide the most viable medium term solution to meet the demands of the automotive marketplace. Currently electric hybrids dominate the marketplace but mechanical hybrid systems, including flywheel, pneumatic and hydraulic systems all have the potential to compete with electrical systems. This paper provides an overview of a mechanical hybrid project created by the University of Warwick. The aim of the project is to assess alternative hybrid powertrains, in particular pneumatic, hydraulic and flywheel systems. This paper provides a description of a simulation tool to investigate and evaluate the mechanical alternatives to electric hybrid vehicles and the results from two fuel economy case studies using the simulation tool: 2.6 ton SUV and 17 ton bus applications. The paper also outlines a feasibility study of the mechanical hybrid options, including a cost benefit analysis of the different systems.