Methodology for global optimal design of electric drive trains

The paper points out a new methodology to design an electric or hybrid drive train. First, the paper presents the reasons for an optimal and global approach in the process of electric drive train design. Then, the methodology is presented, detailing the considered design model as: its orientation, its structure and its characteristics. The electric vehicle design model includes a vehicle dynamic model build in a new "design way" as an energy-based model, specifications elaboration and sizing models for all drive train components. It is managed by constrained optimization techniques and allows determining the drive train components specifications for imposed vehicle performances, taking into account the dynamic comportment of the vehicle but also all components interactions. Furthermore, considering fine components sizing models, the components can be sized taking into account the whole system behavior in an optimal global design. The generic tool build up on this methodology is applied to an electric kart in order to find its optimal drive train configurations in different situations. Then the advantages and the disadvantages of these solutions are discussed, showing the interest of this approach in the decisional process of design.