Fuzzy Logic Strategy for Traction Control in Parallel Hybrid Vehicles

Diminishing the environmental impact of the automotive industry is imperative in light of the pivotal role played by this sector in the surge of Greenhouse Gas emissions during the near past. The implementation of novel alternative power-train architectures merging different energy sources, seems to be a viable approach for decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. A parallel hybrid electric heavy-duty vehicle has been considered for this research, where achieving an optimal real-time torque distribution between both energy sources is crucial to maximize system efficiency. An improvement of the currently defined hybridization control strategy in the LONGRUN framework has been proposed considering the required torque, battery state of charge and throttle rate as input variables of a Fuzzy Logic Controller. Total vehicle fuel consumption along four certified drive cycles has been assessed, effectively revealing the feasibility of implementing the suggested control strategy in order to reduce fuel consumption consequently improving the efficiency of the vehicle under consideration.