Comparison of Control Strategies for Military Series-Type HEVs in Terms of Fuel Economy Based on Vehicle Simulation

Military vehicles, compared to conventional vehicles, require higher driving performance, quieter operation, and longer driving distances with minimal fuel supplies. The series hybrid electric vehicle can be driven with no noise and has high initial startup performance, because it uses only a traction motor that has a high startup torque to drive the vehicle. Moreover, the fuel economy can be improved if the vehicle is hybridized. In series hybrid electric vehicles, the electric generation system, which consists of an engine and a generator, supplies electric energy to a battery or traction motor depending on the vehicle driving state and battery state of charge (SOC). The control strategy determines the operation of the generation system. Thus, the fuel economy of the series hybrid electric vehicle relies on the control strategy. In this study, thermostat, power-follower, and combined strategies were compared, and a 37% improvement in the fuel economy was implemented using the combined control strategy suggested in this study.