Page - 23 - in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Because charging a battery pack from the grid is more efficient than charging it from a tractor engine, it seems logical to hybridize the tractor with high-voltage batteries and pro- pulsion motors. In this manner, the internal combustion engine could be downsized, and the traction battery pack could be charged from the grid. Fuel consumption costs would thus decrease. However, compared with traditional construction machinery, an additional energy storage device is needed, which increases the initial costs. Moreover, the cost added by high-voltage equipment needs to be considered in the whole turnover of the hybrid vehicle conversion. As indicated by several reports and prototypes, hybrid systems have promising applications in both agricultural and construction machinery, but major draw- backs are related to the increased cost due to electrification. Hybrid technologies, particu- larly energy storage devices, are still in the early stages of development, and the trends in cost reduction could push researchers and manufacturers toward the optimization of hybrid solutions for HCAM. Abbreviation BEV Battery electric vehicle CVT Continuously variable transmission EDV Electric-drive vehicle FCV Fuel cell vehicle HEV Hybrid electric vehicle SHEV Series hybrid electric vehicle PHEV Parallel hybrid electric vehicle HF Hybridization factor ICE Internal combustion engine PEV Plug-in electric vehicle ZEV Zero emission vehicle ESS Energy storage system RESS Rechargeable energy storage system BMS Battery management system HCAM Hybrid construction and agricultural machineries Author details Aurelio Somà Address all correspondence to: aurelio.soma@polito.it Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy References [1] Azhar KM, Zahir KM, Zaman K, et al. Global estimates of energy consumption and green- house gas emissions. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2014;29:336-344 Trends and Hybridization Factor for Heavy-Duty Working Vehicles http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.68296 23