AWD/4WD Transmotor-Flywheel-Based Powertrain

the 4WD transmotor-flywheel-based powertrain is made of a conventional electric motor (PMSM in here), and a transmotor-flywheel system. The combination of a transmotor-flywheel system and a PMSM could provide an enhanced performance, which depends on the relative speed of the transmotor’s shafts speed at the given vehicle’s speed. This could enable us to limit the energy storage media (battery in here) utilization. If the transmotor’s shaft connecting to the flywheel has higher angular velocity than the shaft connected to the driveshaft the two electric machines (the transmotor and PMSM) will have an opposite mode of operation. In the other words, when the PMSM is in generating mode, the transmotor is in motoring mode, and vice versa.

Zero Battery Utilization Mode

The 4WD transmotor-flywheel-based powertrain can operate in zero battery utilization mode if the requirement is met. In the other words, it is possible, in some instances, to deliver the required electrical power directly from one electric motor to the other one. In this mode, if the vehicle is accelerating, the PMSM will operate in motoring mode and the transmotor will operate in the generating mode.

Similarly, if all the requirements are met, the transmotor will operate in motoring mode, and the PMSM will be in generating mode, during the vehicle’s deceleration. Similar to the vehicle’s acceleration, a portion of the recovered kinetic energy will be magneto-mechanically transferred from the rear wheels to the flywheel in a highly efficient manner