Abstract
Keywords: hybrid vehicles, power split, transmission
Commercial interest in hybrid vehicle technology has grown at a much more dramatic rate than was predicted a decade ago. Around that time, many industry observers were substantially more optimistic about a major leap from current petroleum based technology straight to hydrogen, fuel cells and bio fuel systems. However, it is now widely accepted that hybrid vehicles will have a significant role to play over the next couple of decades as these other technologies continue to be developed.
The development of power splitting transmissions (PST) has been a crucial feature in the technological success of hybrid driveline vehicles have played a key role in facilitating the management of the mechanical and electrical power flows, ensuring good drivability, providing improved economy and reducing emissions compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
The aim of this paper is to analyse the various PST systems, to compare the performance characteristics of competing designs and to make some observations about the future direction of the technology.