Energy management optimization of a dual motor lithium ion capacitors-based hybrid super sport car

Nowadays, hybrid electric vehicles represent one of the main solutions for the reduction of greenhouse gases in the automotive sector. Alongside the reduction of CO2, hybrid electric vehicles serve as a strong alternative on drivability and performance to conventional internal combustion engine-based vehicles. Vehicles exist with various missions; super sport cars usually aim to reach peak performance and to guarantee a great driving experience to the driver, but great attention must also be paid to fuel consumption. According to the vehicle mission, hybrid electric vehicles can differ in the powertrain configuration and the choice of the energy storage system. Manufacturers have recently started to work on Lithium-Ion Capacitors (LiC)-based hybrid vehicles. This paper discusses the usage of a control-oriented vehicle and powertrain model to analyze the performance of a dual motor LiC-based hybrid V12 vehicle by Automobili Lamborghini. P3–P4 and P2–P4 parallel hybrid configurations have been selected and compared since they allow to fully exploit the potential of the LiC storage system characterized by high power. The validated model has been used to develop control strategies aimed at fuel economy and CO2 reduction, and in particular, both Rule Based Strategies (RBS) and Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategies (ECMS) are presented in the paper. A critical comparison between the various powertrain configurations is carried out, keeping into account the peculiarities of the LiC technology and evaluating the performance of the different control approaches.