Energy optimisation of hybrid-electric vehicles The Pisa Experience

The paper approaches the problem of optimising energy consumption onboard hybrid vehicles in a general way, considering the main issues to be solved in their conceptuality, and therefore often abstracted from the actual structure of the particular drive-train considered. The methods described are an harmonisation of those used by the authors in past several years; therefore, although being rather general, they are far from describing the state-of-the art of scientific literature on the topic. Both parallel and series structures are covered; for either of them, the effect of different functions (e.g. pure-electric drive and plug-in recharge capabilities), on management strategies are discussed. Some more details are supplied in the "case studies" section, where some past experiences of the authors are reconsidered in terms of the general approach proposed in the paper