Component improvements in the electrification of passenger vehicles drivetrains

In this paper, possible efficiency improvements of electric components used in drivetrain technologies for passenger vehicles are examined. The fuel consumption is determined for drivetrains with various degrees of electrification, combined with a set of combustion engine technologies. The simulations underline the importance of the energy efficiency of the electric drivetrain to obtain low CO₂ emissions. The results help in deciding for which components the research has to focus on regarding efficiency improvements. A large sensitivity to total energy efficiency is observed for the electric motor, battery and power electronics efficiencies.