Modeling and simulation of a dual clutch hybrid vehicle powertrain

With the rising fuel costs and increased concerns for the environment, considerable work on advanced and hybrid propulsion systems is currently undertaken all over the world. This paper provides a feasibility study of the concept of hybridizing a dual clutch transmission (DCT). DCTs are the first automatics to provide better efficiency than manual transmissions. DCTs provide reduced shift shocks and better driver comfort, in addition to higher top speeds and torques. It is therefore an excellent candidate for hybridization. DCTs are also well suited for higher torque diesel engines and high speed gas engines. The easy software tunability characteristics have made them a favorite for a new class of vehicle designs. This paper presents an overview of a novel prototype system and uses system level modeling to justify the concept of hybridizing a DCT.