Energy Efficient Platooning of Connected Electrified Vehicles Enabled by a Mixed Hybrid Electric Powertrain Architecture

The platooning of electrified vehicles can improve vehicle performance by enhancing energy efficiency and safety. Nevertheless, studies focusing on control strategies for platoons usually ignore or over-simplify the powertrain in the vehicle dynamics model. Advanced powertrain control strategies for electrified vehicles show that efficient operation of the powertrain depends on the current vehicle status, such as the torque demand, vehicle speed, and battery state of charge. In addition, the operation of individual powertrains can affect platoon-level performance, and the relationship between powertrain operation and vehicle status can be highly nonlinear. In studies of platoons, the evaluation of vehicle performance usually requires the vehicle to converge to a static operating point or to follow a simple operating pattern. Ideal cases can help in the understanding and improvement of vehicle performance but may be less beneficial for applications in realistic cases that are more complex, e.g. in military operations. In this study, a platooning optimization problem is formulated for optimal performance between two locations, given the terrain grade and soil properties along the path. A high-fidelity powertrain model is constructed and embedded in a detailed platoon model. The drive schedule is specifically designed for a platoon of vehicles with an innovative hybrid electric powertrain to achieve minimum total energy consumption. Results show that the approach is able to reduce energy consumption and headway keeping errors.