Generation and Analysis of Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Transmission Shift Schedules with a Torque Split Algorithm

The increased concern over global climate change and lack of long-term sustainability of fossil fuels in the projected future has prompted further research into advanced alternative fuel vehicles to reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. One of the primary advanced vehicle research areas involves electrification and hybridization of vehicles. As hybrid-electric vehicle technology has advanced, so has the need for more innovative control schemes for hybrid vehicles, including the development and optimization of hybrid powertrain transmission shift schedules. The hybrid shift schedule works in tandem with a cost function-based torque split algorithm that dynamically determines the optimal torque command for the electric motor and engine. The focus of this work is to develop and analyze the benefits and limitations of two different shift schedules for a position-3 (P3) parallel hybrid-electric vehicle. a traditional two-parameter shift schedule that operates as a function of vehicle accelerator position and vehicle speed (state of charge (SOC) independent shift schedule), and a three-parameter shift schedule that also adapts to fluctuations in the state of charge of the high voltage batteries (SOC dependent shift schedule). The shift schedules were generated using an exhaustive search coupled with a fitness function to evaluate all possible vehicle operating points. The generated shift schedules were then tested in the software-in-the-loop (SIL) environment and the vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) environment and compared to each other, as well as to the stock 8L45 8-speed transmission shift schedule. The results show that both generated shift schedules improved upon the stock transmission shift schedule used in the hybrid powertrain comparing component efficiency, vehicle efficiency, engine fuel economy, and vehicle fuel economy.