Abstract
The rapid increase in development activities on hybrid powertrains, combined with ever decreasing product development cycle times, is creating unique challenges for the management of powertrain development facilities and the test equipment suppliers to these facilities. Within this paper, the development requirements of both current and future hybrid drivelines are examined. In particular the integration of the powertrain engineering design phase, the control and electric power management activities and the test facility and vehicle based powertrain development phases is examined.
The increasing role of hardware in the loop (HiL) and software in the loop (SiL) tools within this integrated development process is examined. These are important development tools enabling the definition and evaluation of supervisory and subsystem controls, the definition and test of the required control strategy and functionality, the definition of communication systems and protocols, and the integration of the entire system and subsystem control technologies.
The specific and unique powertrain features of both current and future hybrid powertrains are reviewed and the subsequent test equipment and test process requirements are translated down to specific equipment and operational solutions. The future requirements on powertrain development facilities are evaluated for the different types of expected HEV powertrains under development including Micro, Mild and Full hybrid technologies.
Keywords:Hybrids, Development, Testing, Calibration, Facilities