Drive Systems / Electromechanical Drives
The demand for sustainable mobility requires the development of innovative drive systems with optimised energy management. One opportunity of realising this is represented by hybrid drive systems, which are a combination of several different power sources and aggregates.
The research of hybrid drive systems at the FZG has been carried out since 1993. The main topics are conception and simulation of hybrid drive systems. For the development of alternative drive systems, special simulation tools have been engineered to evaluate the properties of drive concepts. The aim of complete vehicle simulations is the determination of fuel economy and driving dynamics for different driving cycles and manoeuvres. A variety of configurations and parameters must be identified for concept studies; especially high requirements are necessary with respect to the computational time of simulation models. Nevertheless a high degree of flexibility and expandability must be given in order to detail the vehicle models for further analysis.
A special highlight in this field is the ‘Active Differential’. The lightweight, compact and efficient system with torque vectoring function in the drive train of MUTE (TUM electric vehicle) offers a high potential for increasing driving dynamics and recuperation performance. A high torque distribution between the wheels of the drive shaft can be achieved at low and high speeds, independent of the engine power. For this purpose, only a small electrical servo performance for the electric control machine of the torque vectoring unit is required. In addition, the system developed by FZG with ‘Active Differential’ offers clear advantages compared to alternative drive systems, with regard to operating safety and driving dynamic.