FEV to Present Parallel Hybrid Powertrain Concept at SAE World Congress 2011

At the upcoming 2011 SAE World Congress (to be held on April, 12 – 14 at the Cobo Center in Detroit), FEV will present a number of innovations, including a Parallel Hybrid Powertrain Concept that features the FEV-developed Electrically Controlled Automatic Transmission, featuring 7 gears and Hydraulic actuation. The company the says system is scheduled to go into a demonstrator vehicle in 2012 at FEV's headquarters in Aachen, Germany.

But let’s see what this system is all about. Well, it seems that its use will help manufacturers downsize product lines in an effort to meet upcoming fuel economy standards. Also, it allows both combustion engine and electric drive capability. The EDE, to which the powertrain is coupled, is a turbocharged, two valve, SOHC three-cylinder engine with 689 cmc displacement.

“The transmission is equipped with three PGS', three clutches, and two brakes. The first PGS is coupled to the engine and electric motor, with the two additional PGS' coupled to a differential to achieve the desired seven-speed hybrid functionality. The transmission currently features Hydraulic clutch actuation. Electromechanical clutch actuation is under development by FEV engineers, and will provide additional contributions to fuel economy, in the range of a 9 percent reduction in fuel consumption,” FEV says.

Key benefits of the combined parallel hybrid powertrain system are listed below:
• Stop/start functionality
• Two-speed pure electric driving
• Seven-speed internal combustion engine drive
• Boosting and recuperation
• Restart of the internal combustion engine out of e-drive
• Full powershift capability with no torque loss
• Three-shaft compact design
• Seven forward gears realized through three clutches and two brakes, and,
• Electromechanical or electro-hydraulic clutch actuation