Evaluation of a CIDI pre-transmission parallel hybrid drivetrain with CVT.

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) is the lead laboratory for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and technology validation for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies (DOE OAAT). In this role, ANL contributes to DOE OAAT goals by setting technical targets and evaluating new technologies in a vehicle systems context, with a focus on hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology. ANL employs a unique integrated process based on powerful simulation tools and experimental facilities to perform system-level tests quickly and cost-effectively. This approach allows ANL researchers to simulate a vehicle system, design an optimal control strategy, and then apply it to the real components and subsystems being evaluated. The objective is to better understand (1) component/subsystem performance and control requirements in a simulated vehicle environment and (2) the effect of control on emissions and efficiency. This process has been applied to the evaluation of a hybrid powertrain consisting of a Compression-Ignition Direct-Injection (CIDI) engine, an electric traction motor, and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). This paper describes the testing methodology, the building of the powertrain, the control strategy used, and the analysis of results.