Validating power management strategies for hybrid sport motorcycles: A virtual prototyping approach

In this paper, we consider the problem of assessing the performance of different power management strategies for a hybrid, 125cc sport motorbike. The electrical machine is used to obtain a torque boost during accelerations, with reduced emissions. Being a sport motorcycle, impact of the hybridisation on performance in terms of handling has to be carefully evaluated. To this aim, a virtual environment has been realised, that allows to describe in detail the vehicle dynamics, as well as the characteristics of the hybrid power train. The simulation environment is completed by a virtual rider and a tool for building test circuits. The virtual environment is used to evaluate two different power management strategies, based on a standard heuristic and on torque-split optimal control strategies, respectively. Results of simulations on a virtual track and of field tests are included.