Abstract
Hybrid vehicles have a drivetrain that integrates power from an internal combustion engine with electric motors. Thus, a drivetrain that effortlessly combined power from combustion engines and electric motors was necessary for hybrid cars. Conventional gearboxes and driveshafts limit efficiency and might be inefficient, despite their demonstrated dependability. This study investigated the possibility of hybrid drivetrains with a combined system of chain sprockets and planetary gears to integrate internal combustion engine to an electric motor using speed matching. Speed matching is crucial for an efficient drivetrain system because it makes sure that different components of the drivetrain work together in tandem with efficiency. In hybrid vehicles, the ICE and Electric Motor would usually have different optimal speed ranges. Proper Speed Matching helps in achieving higher performance and improved efficiency.
Methods used to perform speed matching are:
1. Gear Ratio Adjustments – Adjusting gear ratios would make sure the speeds of ICE and Electric Motor are aligned to match the vehicle's speed.
2. Clutches and Couplings – Used to engage or disengage the drivetrain parts seamlessly which in return leads to efficient power transfer.
3. Electronic Control Systems – These are in place to monitor and adjust speeds of the components for optimal performance.
“The combined drivetrain is 20% lighter and 7% more efficient than the conventional design. Combined system is $200 less expensive to maintain annually and costs $6000 to manufacture. $500 annually in fuel savings balance the greater upfront cost. Combined system efficiency is 92%, compared to the standard 85%. Under heavy load, the load distribution improves from 80% to 95%.”
The integrated system has a $1000 greater manufacturing cost. The combined system is 30 kg lighter than the traditional one. 50% more durability is achieved with the integrated system. In general, a combined drivetrain provides improved long-term cost-effectiveness, load handling, and efficiency.
The addition of a chain sprocket to the intricate planetary gear selection process created a need for a dependable and effective shifting mechanism. The drivetrain may have become bigger and heavier because of the combination of the two systems, increasing the vehicle's weight and packing.
Therefore, reducing the excess weight and size required careful consideration of design and arrangement. In this study, better drivetrain designs and controls for hybrid cars using a combined planetary gear and chain sprocket drivetrain were investigated.