Performance assessment of an integrated starter alternator for hybrid electric vehicles

Hybrid electric vehicles are a viable alternative to full electric vehicles until more efficient and cost effective batteries or fuel cells are developed. The mild hybrid vehicle is a step in the transition of mass produced cars to full hybridization. At the heart of the mild hybrid is the integrated starter alternator (ISA) unit. This paper presents hybrid electric vehicle architectures with an emphasis on the ISA hybrid architecture. The operation modes of an ISA system and the constraints for an electric machine acting as an ISA are detailed. Finally a model for a ISA hybrid vehicle, developed in AMESim is presented and the results of a simulated drive cycle are presented.