For the work, he proposed an optimization framework to facilitate better understanding of the potential benefits resulting from the proper selection of motor/generator and battery size on fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The goal of the framework is the appropriate sizing of these these components and thus reducing the PHEV cost to encourage market penetration of PHEVs.

To formulate the optimization problem analytically and reduce computation time, Malikopoulos used a set of polynomial metamodels constructed to reflect the responses produced by changes in the design variables (i.e., motor/generator and battery size). For the evaluation of various vehicle performance indices required for the optimization study, he used Autonomie—a Matlab/Simulink simulation package for powertrain and vehicle model development developed by Argonne National Laboratory.

Using a medium-duty plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) as the base, Malikopoulos applied the framework to two different parallel powertrain configurations, pre-transmission and post-transmission, to derive the Pareto frontier—i.e., the curve of Pareto-efficient points—with respect to motor/generator and battery size.

He employed a blended supervisor control strategy that uses a mix of the electric motor and engine to power the vehicle in charge-depleting (CD) mode. For all the PHEV simulations, the state of charge (SOC) of the vehicle was allowed to fluctuate with a delta SOC of 60% (80% initial SOC depleting to 20% SOC). The powertrain had to operate as an all-electric vehicle below vehicle speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h) during CD operation; and the engine had to turn on at vehicle speeds greater than 45 mph (72 km/h) for drivability reasons.

To study the impact of the motor/generator and battery size and the associated trade-offs between fuel economy and GHG emissions, Malikopoulos constructed a general quantitative Pareto-based assessment by varying the weighting factors from 0 to 1. The assessment aims to identify the optimal motor/generator and battery size considering the associated trade-offs of fuel economy and GHG emissions.

Among his findings were:

• Increasing the battery size has a significant impact on fuel economy, partly attributable to the additional amount of electricity from grid that can be stored and used to power the vehicle. The motor/generator size, on the other hand, impacts fuel economy only in conjunction with a larger battery size.

• The combination of a large motor/generator and large battery enhances energy recovery during brake regeneration. This is more apparent in the PHEV post-transmission configuration, where fuel economy is noticeably improved.

• A moderate number of modules seems to be the optimal battery size for both configurations.

• For a large motor/generator, the impact of a large battery is quite different for the pre- and post-transmission configurations. For the PHEV pre-transmission configuration, GHG emissions are minimal for a combination of a 120 kW motor/generator with a six-module battery. For the PHEV post-transmission configuration, on the other hand, a 120 kW motor/generator in combination with a battery with 10 modules seems to be the optimal GHG solution.

The optimization and modeling approach adopted here facilitates better understanding of the potential benefits from proper selection of motor/generator and battery size. This understanding can help us identify the right sizing of these components and thus reducing the PHEV cost. Addressing optimal sizing of PHEV components could aim to an extensive market penetration of PHEVs. Future research should consider the interactions between power management control strategies and these design variables. Simultaneous consideration of both design and power management may reveal more opportunities for substantial improvements in fuel economy and GHG emissions.

—“Impact of Component Sizing in Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Energy Resource and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction”, in press

Resources

• Malikopoulos, A.A. “Impact of Component Sizing in Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Energy Resource and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction,” ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol. (in press)