Customer Reviews

Vehicle Propulsion Systems: Introduction to Modeling and Optimization

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This is by far the best book on the topic I have found. If you plan to design or model any vehicle, but in particular a hybrid or electric vehicle, I recommend you own this book.

Specifically, a large portion of the mathematical models required for design-level calculations are available directly from the text. The text is very concise, making good use of external citations to remain thorough. Finally, the optimization case studies are very helpful in understanding hybrid design goals.

Highly Recommended for engineers and students with some experience in vehicles.

If you're an expert or a student, or even a hobbyist with a lot of free time, anyone wanting to learn how to use numerical integrators (e.g. Matlab (c)) to model specific automobile components and vehicle performance should get this book. Here are a few components: Thermal Battery Models, Brushless DC Motors, Continuously Variable Transmissions, Pneumatic Accumulators, Fuel Reformers (for Fuel Cells), and of course IC Engines, Automatic Transmissions, and EVERYTHING in between.

You can essentially design and analyze whatever automotive powertrain you'd like, electric hybrids, fuel cells, or pure ICEs, and put it through any type of command or velocity based schedule. It's a very "hands-on" book. There's even an online resource with Matlab (c) examples.

The content vs. cost of the book is amazing. And not only do the authors explain various ways of modeling components, they emphasize the importance of the system and controls design. And the true wealth in this book is the optimization chapter. 2 of 3 Appendices are devoted to Optimal Control Theory and Dynamic Programming. The 3rd contains 8 case studies as instructional examples.