Development of a Quasi-Static Backward Code for the Simulation of an Integrated Starter Alternator Vehicle

The automotive industry needs a substantial revolution. It is necessary to replace conventional vehicles, equipped with highly polluting and very inefficient Internal Combustion Engines (if compared with the high efficiency of Electrical Motors), with clean, efficient electric vehicles (Zero Emission Vehicles). The electrical vehicles do not produce pollution and are characterized by high efficiency values (about 0.8) respect to ICE (about 0.27). In the transition from vehicles equipped with only ICE, to purely electrical vehicles, a fundamental step is represented by HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles). This paper shows the development, the validation and the use of a numerical code for hybrid vehicle simulation. A quasi-static “backward” simulation code was developed and implemented for an ISA (Integrated Starter Alternator) configuration vehicle. The Willans line approach was implemented to create the HEV model. It makes it possible to characterize the simulation with two properties: scalability and composability. The model was tested by comparison with experimental data. With the purpose of highlighting ISA’s potential for fuel economy and pollutant emission reduction, a real conventional vehicle was simulated. The vehicle was changed to a mild hybrid vehicle and the results were compared.