Comparative analysis of hybrid drive configurations for local public transport road vehicles

This paper contains the description of a comparative analysis to find out the most efficient drive configuration for a specific operational profile in the area of local public transport road vehicles. Especially in this area the hybrid drive technology holds unused potentials to reduce the specific fuel consumption of internal combustion engines. Next to the associated reduction of the CO2-emission it may reduce the current costs of operating companies using this kind of vehicles. The analysis was accomplished on the basis of a simulation model which has been developed for this purpose. Components of this model are the investigated drive system, the physical properties of the vehicle, the vehicle's environment and also the energy management. The different possible hybrid configurations are compared to a conventional drive system. The analysis has shown that a hybridization of the drive system may reduce the fuel consumption significant.