The role of an electric machine controller in a hybrid powertrain-functional, physical, and expertise issues for component and system suppliers

An electric machine controller has a very important and integral role within a hybrid electric vehicle drivetrain. This paper investigates the functions within this powertrain that are traditionally decomposed as machine control functions, and how the machine controller interacts with other functions. Next, different physical partitioning solutions are illustrated within a sample hybrid powertrain configuration. However, many of these partitions will require different levels of expertise for suppliers of the system components. Then, the paper discusses some logical next step partitions that may apply to production powertrains. The paper concludes that the electric machine controller will not be "absorbed" by another controller in the vehicle until the hybrid powertrain becomes a widely utilized subsystem.