A Methodical Concept Study and Optimization of the Drivetrain for Light Commercial Vehicle Applications

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">The EU currently has very ambitious plans for the electrification of vehicles, particularly in the field of urban logistics. For example, the so-called “Transport White Paper” [<span class="xref">1</span>] aims to achieve essentially CO<sub>2</sub>-free logistics in major urban centers by 2030, while “Europe on the move” [<span class="xref">2</span>] has presented a series of legislative initiatives. The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Transport proposes research priorities and actions to deploy innovative solutions, with a particular focus on the electrification of transport.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">Numerous advancements in electromobility have led to a growing number of vehicles available in various areas, particularly in urban logistics. New concepts like cargo bikes and micro-vehicles are being developed, but they cannot fully replace traditional light commercial vehicles. While some electrified options exist, they are often modified versions of existing platforms with internal combustion engines swapped for electric drives.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The research work in this paper deals with the basic considerations and the interaction between vehicle and drivetrain with the ulterior motive of laying the foundation for the development of a possible application-oriented concept for inner-city and suburban goods delivery. In particular, the advantages of a two-speed transmission solution for this vehicle category will be discussed. Based on an in-house developed platform for longitudinal dynamics simulation, an intensive comparison between single-speed and two-speed configuration was carried out, comparing performance and efficiency values.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">Ultimately, the research work presented shows a method for right-sizing electric drives for light commercial vehicle applications, taking into account possible real-life implementation. It demonstrates considerable potential for improvement.</div></div>