Engine, battery, motor and control parameter simulation

Tough new emissions regulations and the need for maximum efficiency have driven the emergence of hybrid racing machines which use innovative designs to link Internal Combustion (IC) engines and electrical power devices. For example, combining conventional powertrains with electrical units and batteries to recover ‘lost’ energy from heat and kinetics for reuse in the system. This results in a vehicle delivering improved performance, range and top speed from the engine whilst redeploying stored energy as immediately available power when required.

This however, leaves teams and manufacturers with the challenge of simultaneously developing smaller Internal Combustion (IC) engines for hybrid systems and compatible battery / motor units, all with tighter resources and budgets.

In the initial stages of development physical prototype modelling is expensive, requiring virtual simulation tools to answer many of the 'What ifs' before committing to a design path. Complete vehicle system simulation models are vital in the selection of the correct balance of components to meet performance, emissions, weight cost drivability requirements for the both the IC engine and electric hybrid systems by controlling and predicting their behaviour under different duty cycles.

Hybrid electric motorsport is now well established across Single Seaters, Endurance, Off-Road, and Touring Cars – all of which can be modelled using simulation software.