A Comprehensive Framework for Hybrid Vehicle Energy Management: Integrating Power-Split Transmissions, Static Component Modeling, and MATLAB/Simulink Validation

Abstract

This study addresses the critical challenge of optimizing energy management in hybrid vehicles (HVs) to reduce fuel consumption while balancing computational feasibility. A novel power management strategy is proposed, leveraging a power-split hybrid transmission (PSHT) to dynamically regulate energy flow between an internal combustion engine (ICE), a permanent magnet synchronous electric machine, and a battery pack. The PSHT architecture integrates a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with planetary gearing to enable seamless torque distribution and regenerative braking. Component-level models—including static efficiency maps for the ICE, efficiency-driven electric machine dynamics, and a simplified electrochemical battery model—are combined within a MATLAB/Simulink framework to simulate real-world driving scenarios. Key assumptions, such as constant internal resistance in the battery and quasi-steady-state ICE operation, prioritize computational efficiency without compromising system-level insights. Simulation results demonstrate that the strategy minimizes ICE usage during transient phases (e.g., acceleration/deceleration), reserving it for steady-state operation at 15 m/s, while prioritizing electric propulsion for dynamic demands. This approach reduces fuel consumption by 18–22% compared to conventional hybrid strategies, validated through metrics such as shaft speeds, electrical losses, and state-of-charge dynamics. The study underscores the viability of model-based energy management for enhancing HV efficiency, providing a foundation for real-time implementation and further refinement.

Introduction

To achieve environmental sustainability, reducing fuel consumption in future vehicles is critical. Hybrid Vehicles (HVs) offer a promising solution by combining an internal combustion engine (ICE) with electric motors to improve efficiency through engine downsizing, regenerative braking, eliminating idling losses, and optimizing power distribution.

A key challenge in HVs is managing power flow between the engine and electric motor efficiently, addressed by Energy Management Strategies (EMS). These strategies are either heuristic (rule-based, simpler but less adaptive) or optimal (model-based, more efficient but computationally intensive).

This paper focuses on a power management strategy using a Power-Split Hybrid Transmission (PSHT) system, integrating an ICE, a permanent magnet synchronous motor/generator, a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), and a battery pack. The PSHT enables flexible torque distribution and energy recovery to reduce fuel use.

• The ICE is modeled using static efficiency maps for computational simplicity.

• The electric motor’s behavior is characterized by torque-speed and efficiency maps, enabling accurate modeling of both motor and generator modes.

• The CVT allows continuous adjustment of gear ratios to optimize engine and motor operation.

• The battery model includes electrical, thermal, and degradation sub-models to simulate real-time energy storage performance and longevity.

A MATLAB/Simulink simulation model combines these components to evaluate dynamic interactions, control strategies, and fuel efficiency under different driving conditions. The models assume steady-state operation for computational efficiency while accurately representing power flows and control logic. The simulation validates the proposed system’s ability to optimize fuel consumption and manage energy effectively in a hybrid vehicle.

Conclusion

This paper presents a comprehensive framework for optimizing energy management in power-split hybrid vehicles[1,6], demonstrating significant reductions in fuel consumption through dynamic power distribution. By integrating static ICE efficiency maps, electric motor/generator torque-speed characteristics, and a simplified battery model, the proposed strategy effectively decouples transient power demands from the ICE, leveraging electric propulsion for acceleration and regenerative braking. The MATLAB/Simulink simulations validate the approach, showing that restricting ICE operation to steady-state conditions (15 m/s) while prioritizing electric energy for transient phases reduces fuel use by 18–22%. The CVT’s role in enabling seamless torque distribution and the battery’s bidirectional energy flow are critical to this efficiency gain. However, simplifications such as neglecting thermal effects in the battery and assuming constant internal resistance limit the model’s real-world fidelity. Future work should incorporate dynamic thermal modelling[13], transient ICE behavior[4], and real-world driving cycles to enhance accuracy. Additionally, hardware-in-the-loop testing[15] could bridge the gap between simulation and practical implementation. This study lays a robust foundation for adaptive energy management systems, emphasizing the trade-offs between computational complexity and fuel efficiency in hybrid vehicle design

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mahtabul Haque , Keshav Pratap Yadav. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.