Overview

The vehicle power plant is designed to deliver sufficient propulsion power to the driven wheels to meet performance targets that are consistent with vehicle brand image. The previous two chapters described how conventional engines and electric drive systems are matched to meet performance and economy targets. In this chapter we continue to evaluate the matching criteria between combustion engines and ac drives for targeted road load conditions. The reader is no doubt aware of the various powertrain configurations available in the market place from small in-line three and four cylinder engines with ISA type ac drives matched to the driveline by 5, and now a 6 speed and in one instance a 7 speed, manual or automatic transmissions or even with continuously variable transmissions. Larger engines such as V6s and V8s with inherently higher torque are typically matched to the driveline with 3 and 4 speed transmissions. At the high end, V10, V12 and even V16 engines with their available torque ranging from 350 to nearly 1400 Nm explain why such drivelines can pull tall gear ratios. To give some examples of this, the DaimlerChrysler V10 Viper engine is an aluminum block 8.3 L, overhead valve (OHV), 10 cylinder power plant rated 373 kW (500 PS) and 712 Nm torque. The Jaguar XJ-S V12 is a 5.3 L, 12 cylinder power plant rated 208 kW (284 PS) with 415 Nm torque at 2800 rpm. General Motors Corp. in January 2003 introduced its Cadillac Sixteen with a V16 aluminum block...