Comprehensive lost minimization strategy for parallel plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have two energy inputs, the petroleum fuel and electric energy from the utility grid. Due to the different operation costs, the energy management has significant effects on the fuel economy. In this paper, an energy management strategy, stemmed from the AER-focused and blended strategy, is developed. It features the “smart” utilization of the stored electric energy and meanwhile provides intensive electric range. A traffic pattern identification algorithm is proposed. Using the historic and current traffic data, the algorithm can identify the highway and urban traffic pattern, which provides the guidance of the “smart” utilization. In addition, an innovative real time control algorithm for charge sustenance is proposed. It computs the comprehensive energy loss of the hybrid drive train. The operation points with the minimum comprehensive energy loss is found to be the optimized engine and motor operation points. Simulation results show that significant improvement of fuel efficiency can be achieved.