The series-parallel powertrains for high-power vehicles have complex architectures. They generally require multiple planetary gear trains with several clutches. The maintenance and durability of the clutches are nonetheless not relevant for on-board implementation. In this paper, a new architecture with a Ravigneaux gear train without clutches is proposed. The complexity of the architecture is then reduced. The objective of this paper is to illustrate the benefits of such a powertrain in terms of energy savings in comparison to a conventional truck. Due to the mechanical constraints of the gear train, the control scheme of the vehicle is complex to design. A functional description, the Energetic Macroscopic Representation, is then used to organize the control scheme. Simulation results, with a rules-based energy management strategy, show a reduction of the fuel consumption from 6% to 19% depending on the driving cycles. To prove the use of a Ravigneaux gear train as a power split device, the basic operating modes are validated in the open-loop control on a test bed.

High cost, no-ideal driving range, and charge time limit electric vehicle market share. Facing these challenges, an integrated motor drive/battery charger system has been proposed by Valeo. A further advancement, based on this system, is present in this paper; for the first time, the integration of traction, charging, and air-compressor supply modes is proposed and tested by real-time experimentation. This integrated system is expected to increase the vehicle component compactness and power, therefore potentially reducing the cost and battery charging time. An overall and unique control scheme is detailed to achieve the three main operating modes: traction, charging, and air-compressor supply modes. The real-time experimentation results show the system feasibility.

This paper deals with the real-time energy management of a fuel cell/battery/supercapacitors energy storage system for electric vehicles. The association of the battery and the supercapacitors with the fuel cell aims to reduce the hydrogen consumption while limiting the constraints on the fuel cell and the battery. In this paper, a real-time optimization-based energy management strategy by λ-control is proposed. Simulation results on a standard driving cycle show that the hydrogen consumption is reduced by 7% in comparison with a fuel-cell-based electric vehicle without any secondary energy storage source. Moreover, the energy management strategy ensures the system safety while preserving the fuel cell and the battery. Experimental results show that the developed energy management strategy is well-suited for the real-time requirements, applicability, and safety.

The Energetic Macroscopic Representation (EMR) has been developed in 2000 to design control of electrical systems. Since 2002 this graphical tool has been introduced to teach control of electrical systems in France, then Canada and Switzerland. A Photovoltaic Conversion System is simulated using EMR in order to present an actual and valuable example for students within renewable energy applications.