10.25394/PGS.7430291.v1
Sree Harsha Rayasam
Sree Harsha
Rayasam
Evaluation of Fuel Savings due to Powertrain Electrification of Class 8 Trucks
Purdue University Graduate School
2019
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Fuel Savings
Electrification
Mechanical Engineering
2019-01-16 23:58:30
Thesis
https://hammer.purdue.edu/articles/thesis/Evaluation_of_Fuel_Savings_due_to_Powertrain_Electrification_of_Class_8_Trucks/7430291
<p>Ever-increasing need for
freight transportation and mounting environmental concerns call for a cleaner
and more efficient energy source. Hybrid electric vehicles have shown potential
to reduce both petroleum usage as well as harmful emissions. In this thesis, a
newly developed series hybrid electric powertrain by a small start-up company
is studied on a route between Florence, Kentucky and Cambridge, Ohio hubs to
evaluate potential fuel savings due to hybridization.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>An experimental testing
protocol to calculate fuel economy has been developed and the real-world fuel
economy of this hybrid electric powertrain is calculated. A vehicle simulation
model representing the experimental powertrain is created in Autonomie and this
vehicle model is simulated on three distinct drive cycles obtained from
experimental testing phase. These results are compared with a conventional class
8 truck to evaluate fuel savings. The simulation analysis indicates that fuel economy
of hybrid is better on only one of the three drive cycles under consideration. Further,
it is determined that the existing powertrain does not meet the gradeability criterion.
To remedy this, a series electric hybrid powertrain with different compo-</p>
<p>nent sizes is then modeled
and simulated on the same drive cycles. The modified powertrain is found to
result in fuel economy improvement on all three drive cycles considered while
also meeting the gradeability requirement. The effect of drive cycle on fuel
economy of a hybrid powertrain is also studied in this thesis.</p><br>