Configuration Study of Hybrid Electric Power Pack for Tracked Combat Vehicles

Abstract

In recent years, there is growing interest in hybridisation of military vehicles due to the features and advantages offered by the technology. Generally, the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is propelled by a combination of electric motors and internal combustion engine (ICE). Hybrid electric combat vehicles, when compared with conventional vehicles, have the advantages of improved fuel efficiency and drivability due to optimal operation of ICE, regenerative braking and silent operation capability. Limitations related to key technologies such as compact electric motors/generators, power electronics and energy storage systems that are required to operate under extreme environmental conditions pose challenges to the development of hybrid electric power pack. Technical challenges of HEV technologies considering futuristic applications of combat vehicles is described. The configuration specification of hybrid electric power train architecture suited to deliver high automotive performance and power demands for infantry combat vehicles (ICV) is also discussed.

Determination of the Electric Drive Power for Lightly Armored Caterpillar and Wheeled Vehicles Using Single- Or Two-Stage Mechanical Gearboxes

“…The first requirement allows to determine the minimum required mechanical power of the electric drive, necessary for its implementation. In accordance with [8,9] for the first requirement…”

“…Electromechanical transmissions (EMT) have recently become increasingly widespread, not only in civilian vehicles, but also in military equipment [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. This is due to the fact that EMT can provide a number of significant advantages, which were formulated in [8,9]:…”

“…The characteristics of modern traction motors (TMs), in particular induction TMs with frequency control, allow to obtain a hyperbolic characteristic of constant power close to ideal. However, as a rule, it is still not enough to produce an electric drive with stepless regulation in the whole range that is required for vehicles moving not only on paved roads, but also off-road [8,9]. This is due to the limitation of the maximum torque of the TM, which is dictated by the value of the maximum current in the windings and overheating.…”

“…This leads to an additional increase in the weight, size and cost of such a transmission and reduces in aggregate the advantages that could be obtained when introducing an electric drive for military armored vehicles. In the works [8,9], the traction balance of vehicles with EMT was calculated using the example of the MT-LB tracked multipurpose conveyortractor and the BTR-4 wheeled armored personnel carrier. However, a coherent and relatively universal algorithm that allows determining the limits of the possibility of using single-stage gearboxes in the EMT for the LACWV and the power of the TM required for this purpose has not been found in the scientific literature.…”

Tracked vehicle physics-based energy modelling and series hybrid system optimisation for the Bradley fighting vehicle

“…2017A substantial advantage of the series hybrid drive train is the mechanical decoupling between the ICE and driven wheels. Decoupling reduces the overall fuel requirement for the vehicle system by enabling high-efficiency operation of the generator (Sivakumar et al, 2017). When sizing a generator for a series system, it is important to select a generator that will meet the power demand while operating at its maximum efficiency.…”