The Design of an Energy Storage System (ESS) for a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

The many and recent fluctuations in the global economy, due to dwindling supplies of fossil-fuels, is evidence of its sensitivity to this natural resource. This coupled with growing concern about the negative effects of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, i.e. global warming, has increased global interest in hybrids and alternative-energy vehicles (AEVs). Translating this interest into consumer acceptance of hybrids and/or AEVs will be dependent not only on how the consumer overcomes pre-determined notions, but primarily by this technology's ability to successfully compete with conventional methods, in terms of performance, reliability, longevity, safety and cost. This paper will chronicle the process for virtual design and simulation of an Energy Storage System (ESS) for a Two-mode, plug-in, hybrid system for a production mid-size Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). In order to properly ascertain the ideal size of the battery packs necessary to effectively power this architecture, the software package Powertrain Systems Analysis Toolkit (PSAT) was used. Based on the results obtained from PSAT, a battery pack matching the performance requirements was selected. Design of, and structural analysis for, the ESS were performed utilizing the software application NX. In order to ascertain the specifications for the components of the cooling system for the battery packs stored in the ESS, thermal analysis was performed using the Partial Differential Equation (PDE) Toolbox from the Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) software.