Development of a Hybrid Electric Motorcycle that Accords Energy Efficiency and Controllability via an Inverse Differential Gear and Power Mode Switching Control

Abstract

In this study, inverse differential gear and power mode switching control were used to develop a hybrid electric motorcycle (HEM). An inverse differential gear power splitter was installed to integrate or distribute the power of an internal combustion engine (ICE), thus achieving single/dual power output. In addition, the transmission system was configured with continuously variable transmission to adjust the transmission speed reduction ratio and stabilize the power output. As a result, three power modes (i.e., the motor drive mode, ICE drive/generator mode, and dual power drive mode) could be switched between each other smoothly. Finally, our HEM was tested by a chassis power gauge. The test results showed that the HEM consumed 41.1% less fuel and produced 58.6% less exhaust emissions compared with conventional ICE motorcycles. In terms of controllability, the acceleration time for 0–100 m was 2.4 s less than the Taiwan E-scooter Standard (TES). The fastest highest vehicle speed was 2.1 times greater than the test of the TES.