The structure and optimal gear tooth profile design of two-speed transmission for electric vehicles

Abstract

As environmental regulations have been strengthened worldwide since the Paris Climate Agreement, the automobile industry is shifting its production paradigm to focus on eco-friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles and hydrogen-battery vehicles. Governments are banning fossil fuel vehicles by law and expanding the introduction of green vehicles. The energy efficiency of electric vehicles that use a limited power source called batteries depends on the driving environment. Applying a two-speed transmission to an electric vehicle can optimize average speed and performance efficiency at low speeds, and achieve maximum speed with minimal torque at high speeds. In this study, a two-speed transmission for an electric vehicle has been developed, to be used in a compact electric vehicle. This utilizes a planetary gear of a total of three pairs, made of a single module which was intended to enable two-speed. The ring gear was removed, and the carrier was used in common. When shifting, the energy used for the speed change is small, due to the use of the simple method of fixing the sun gear of each stage. Each gear was designed by calculating bending strength and surface durability, using JGMA standards, to secure stability. The safety factor of the gears used in the transmission is as follows: all gears have been verified for safety with a bending strength of 1.2 or higher and a surface pressure strength of 1.1 or higher. The design validity of the transmission was verified by calculating the gear meshing ratio and the reference efficiency of the gear. The transmission to be developed through the research results of this paper has a simple and compact structure optimized for electric vehicles, and has reduced shift shock. In addition, energy can be used more efficiently, which will help improve fuel economy and increase drive range. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.