The impact of hybrid and electric powertrains on vehicle dynamics, control systems and energy regeneration

The background to the development of so-called green or low-carbon vehicles continues to be relentlessly reviewed throughout the literature. Research and development (R&D) on novel powertrains – often based on electric or hybrid technology – has been dominating automotive engineering around the world for the first two decades of the twenty-first century. Inevitably, most of the R&D has focused on powertrain technology and energy management challenges. However, as new powertrains have started to become commercially available, their effects on other aspects of vehicle performance have become increasingly important. This article focuses on the review of the integration of new electrified powertrains with the vehicle dynamics and control systems. The integration effects can be discussed in terms of three generic aspects of vehicle motions, namely roll-plane, pitch-plane and yaw-plane, which however are strongly coupled. The topic on regenerative suspension is further discussed. It quickly becomes clear that this integration poses some interesting future engineering challenges to maintain currently accepted levels of ride, handling and stability performance.