Making the Case for Electrified Transportation

TLDR

Lower fuel consumption and GHG emissions require higher‑efficiency vehicles, and electrification is viewed as the most promising route to a sustainable transportation system that uses electrical energy for traction and non‑traction loads, with powertrain architecture, design, control, and software tightly integrated for high performance. This paper examines enabling technologies and solutions for electrified transportation, focusing on power electronics, electric machines, powertrain architectures, energy storage systems, and controls and software. The study shows that efficient electrical paths and high power/energy‑density components extend electric range, allow engines to operate near peak efficiency, and reduce energy use and emissions, while detailing the roles of power electronics, electric machines, architectures, ESS, and control/software.

Abstract

In order to achieve lower fuel consumption and less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we need higher efficiency vehicles with improved performance. Electrification is the most promising solution to enable a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation system. Electrified transportation vision includes utilizing more electrical energy to power traction and nontraction loads in the vehicle. In electrified powertrain applications, the efficiency of the electrical path, and the power and energy density of the components play important roles to improve the electric range of the vehicle to run the engine close to its peak efficiency point and to maintain lower energy consumption with less emissions. In general, the electrified powertrain architecture, design and control of the powertrain components, and software development are coupled to facilitate an efficient, high-performance, and reliable powertrain. In this paper, enabling technologies and solutions for the electrified transportation are discussed in terms of power electronics, electric machines, electrified powertrain architectures, energy storage systems (ESSs), and controls and software.