Tomorrow’s Mobility

Sustainable Technologies for the automotive sector

Week 3 – Session 4 – Hybrid Vehicles Architectures

Maria Thirouard – El Hadj Miliani

Introduction

I- Definition of hybrid architectures

II- Series hybrid architecture
III- Parallel hybrid architecture
IV- Complex or series-parallel hybrid architecture

Conclusion

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Introduction
This lesson shows that Hybrid Vehicles can not only be classified by the hybridization level, as seen
in the last lesson, but also by the way the electrical and the thermal powertrain are connected – the
so called hybrid architecture. Therefore, the different options of hybrid architectures are explained
and discussed.

I- Definition of hybrid architectures

A hybrid architecture is a way the two powertrains – thermal and electrical – are connected
together. Remember that in hybrid vehicles, the power train contains the ICE, the electric motor –
which can also function as a generator – the batteries (low and high voltage), the power electronics
converters (DC-DC, AC-DC, DC-AC) and the transmission to ensure power output.
The way these elements are connected together is important to optimize fuel consumption and
reduce cost. Each architecture is designed for a specific type of vehicles to meet their specifications.
If these specifications change, the architecture must be adapted to the new specs.
Hybrid vehicle architecture

Power
Control Unit Electric Machine

Transmission
Generator Power Split
Device

Fuel Tank

ICE

Electrical path
Mechanical path

For instance, an architecture well suited for a passenger vehicle may not be recommended for a
truck because, as you can well understand, the requirements are different. Therefore, before
starting the process of electrification of a vehicle, it is necessary to identify the type of vehicle and
its application, whether it is a passenger car, city bus, truck or other.
Different architectures for hybrid
vehicles

Vehicle Vehicle
Vehicle type
application architecture

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The architecture is largely divided into three branches: parallel hybrids, series hybrids and complex
or series-parallel hybrids. We will discuss now each one of these.

II- Series hybrid architecture

In the series configuration, only one powertrain is directly or mechanically linked to the tires; while
the other powertrain can only power the former system. As you can see in this case, the internal
combustion engine is not connected directly to the driveshaft; it drives the generator to charge the
high voltage battery that powers the electric motor.
The E-motor is the only component that can propel the vehicle. In series configuration, the electric
motor is designed for maximum vehicle power because it is the sole provider of the propulsion
chain that directly drives the wheels.
One of the biggest advantages of this configuration is that the internal combustion engine can
operate at its optimal efficiency region, minimizing fuel consumption regardless of the power
demanded by the driver. In the series case, the ICE serves only to charge the battery.

The drawback of this configuration is that, as can be seen, there are several stages of energy
conversion. Each stage has losses involved that considerably reduce the efficiency of the propulsion
chain. In general, series hybrid configuration is well suited for heavy commercial vehicles, military
vehicles and buses.

Series architecture
Electrical path
Mechanical path

Optimal Minimized
efficiency fuel
region for consumption
ICE

Reduced
system
efficiency

Mainly used for:

Heavy Military Buses

vehicles vehicles

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III- Parallel hybrid architecture
When the two powertrains have a mechanical link to the vehicle tires, the architecture is termed as
parallel because each powertrain can power the vehicle in parallel to the other.
In a hybrid vehicle with parallel configuration, the internal combustion engine and electric motor
work in tandem to generate the power that propels the vehicle.
This power flows through two paths from the two energy sources (fuel and battery). The path from
the internal combustion engine can be considered as the mechanical path, whereas the one from
the electric motor is the electrical path.
The electrical path is bidirectional: the motor can propel the vehicle AND recharge the battery.
The parallel configuration provides great flexibility because the required propulsion power can be
distributed in a smart way between the electrical path and the mechanical path, depending on the
state of charge of the battery and the efficiency of the ICE.
When the battery state of charge and the power demand are low, some torque from the internal
combustion engine is used to drive the electric motor that runs as a generator to charge the
battery. In general, the parallel hybrid configuration uses a small battery, compared to series hybrid
configuration, which relies on regenerative braking to keep it charged.

Parallel architecture is commonly used for passenger cars, from mild to full-hybrids, as well as for
motorcycles and even some city buses and urban trucks.

Parallel architecture
Electrical path
Mechanical path

Great flexibility depending on the SOC and

the efficiency of the thermal engine

Low SOC & Low torque  Some torque from ICE is used to charge the battery

Smaller battery in parallel configuration compared to series configuration

Mainly used for:

Cars Motorcycles Buses Urban trucks

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IV- Complex or series-parallel hybrid architecture
In a complex hybrid, there is both a mechanical link between the two powertrains and the vehicle
as in parallel hybrid and, in addition, an electrical link between the two powertrains as in series
hybrids.
This architecture, in general, requires a rather complex transmission to ensure all the coupling
needed. It is like trying to mix the two architectures to have the advantages of both, the main
inconvenience being the increased complexity of the system.
The combination of series and parallel designs allows the internal combustion engine to drive the
wheels directly (like in the parallel design), and it could disconnect it and allow only the electric
motor to propel the vehicle.
The whole system must be optimized, of course. The key element for optimal operation of this
configuration is the power-split, which manages the different operating modes of this
configuration.

The series-parallel configuration is more expensive than the other two configurations and requires
a complex energy management strategy to control the dual system. This type of architecture is the
most commonly used for passenger cars for either extremely high efficiency or high performance,
as well as some buses.

Series-Parallel architecture
(Complex architecture)

Electrical path
Mechanical path

Mixes the advantages of both configuration

Very complex system

Cost

Mainly used for:

High-performance Buses
cars

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Conclusion
To sum up, the hybrid architecture is just another way to classify hybrid vehicles, depending on the
way all the elements are connected together.

In the series configuration, only one powertrain is mechanically connected to the tires, usually the
electric motor.

In the parallel configuration, both powertrains have a mechanic connection to the tires so they can
both propel the vehicle independently or together.

In the series-parallel architecture, or the complex architecture, there is both a mechanical and an
electrical link between the two powertrains and the vehicle AND an electrical link between the two
powertrains.

However, it is extremely important to adapt the architecture used to the type of vehicle.

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