Development and experimental validation of a novel hybrid powertrain with dual planetary gear sets for transit bus applications

• Published in: Science China. Technological sciences Vol. 58; no. 12; pp. 2085 - 2096
• Main Authors: Qin, KongJian, Wang, EnHua, Zhao, Hang, Shi, GuangKui, Wang, RenGuang, Kong, ZhiGuo, Wang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Science China Press 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Automobiles; Automotive engineering; Buses (vehicles); Energy conservation; Engineering; Fuel consumption; Gear trains; Powertrains; Transit; 实验; 巴士; 应用; 开发; 混合动力总成; 混合动力电动汽车; 混合动力系统; 验证; dual planetary gear set; hybrid powertrain; transit bus; experimental validation; performance analysis
• DOI: 10.1007/s11431-015-5946-5
• ISSN: 1674-7321

Given that energy conservation and environmental protection are two important goals for the automotive industry, the application of a hybrid electric powertrain can improve vehicle energy efficiency while decreasing fuel consumption and engine emissions. Planetary gear-based power-split hybrid powertrains have become widely used in passenger vehicles, but remain rarely employed on transit buses. This study proposes a novel hybrid powertrain based on two planetary gear sets（CHS） and presents its operating principles along with development of a control strategy for the powertrain. The CHS hybrid powertrain operates in electric mode when the driving power demand is low, and changes to a hybrid electric mode according to the power-split principle of the planetary gear set. To validate the feasibility of the designed CHS hybrid powertrain, a prototype transit bus equipped with the designed hybrid powertrain system was built, and the operating characteristics of the system were analyzed through a performance test conducted on a chassis dynamometer. Compared with a conventional powertrain, the CHS hybrid powertrain can reduce fuel consumption by 39%. Thus, the CHS hybrid powertrain is a good solution for heavy-duty applications such as hybrid transit buses because of its simple structure and excellent fuel efficiency.