Research on Economic Benefits and Adaptability of Different ELV Powertrain Topologies

Abstract

Due to the unique feature of zero carbon emissions, electric vehicles (EVs) have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Powertrain as the core system of Electric Logistics Vehicle (ELVs) which has become the focus of current research with the development of the EV. How to design and develop cost-effective powertrains for ELVs is still the focus of current research. The paper takes the powertrain of ELV as the research object. The topology and performance parameters of ELV are classified and calculated first, then comparative analyses are conducted in conjunction with the actual application of ELVs, and the advantages of different type of powertrains on ELVs are explained from the application scenarios, development costs, driving feeling, et al. The research results show that the topology of powertrain depends mainly on the total mass of the vehicle. The motor direct drive system is economically optimal for ELVs with a light payload, and as the payload mass increases the motor with gearbox drive system has a more pronounced cost advantage. In addition, from the point of view of material costs, in the powertrain motor design larger output torque requires more ferromagnetic material and copper wire, resulting in increased costs, which is the main reason why heavy-duty ELVs opt for motors with gearboxes drive system. It is deemed that these research results will be of great importance for the future powertrain design of EVs.

Keywords

• Electric vehicle
• powertrain
• logistics vehicle
• economic benefits