Trends in vehicle concept and key technology development for hybrid and battery electric vehicles

This paper examines the state-of-the-art and trends in vehicle concept as well as key technology development in the context of electric mobility in a time frame from 2002 until 2012. Thus, an extensive vehicle concept database was designed, covering detailed technical specifications of more than 200 electrified vehicles in 3 different world regions, also considering different stages in vehicle development. By analyzing and comparing over 75 different market- and technology-oriented parameters per vehicle, sophisticated statements for the state-of-the-art and development trends of Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicles are identified. Results in this paper illustrate trends for Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicle concept development with a focus on vehicle development stages, vehicle segments and powertrain architectures. On the other hand, state-of-the-art and trends for the development of two electric mobility key technologies are pointed out: Batteries and electric machines. Statements here are made for developments in terms of battery and electric machine technology, installation place, as well as technical parameters like energy capacity and power density. Key results illustrate e.g. a trend towards the use of front and rear axle motors, a more than doubled average electric machine power density with over 1,0kW/kg and an average BEV battery capacity of 19Wh per kg vehicle mass in 2012.