Cent. Eur. J. Eng. • 2(1) • 2012 • 39-49 DOI: 10.2478/s13531-011-0059-9 Development of a software platform for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle simulator Athanasios D. Karlis 1∗ , Eric Bibeau 2 , Paul Zanetel 2 , Zelon Lye 2 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus, Kimmeria, 67100 Xanthi, Greece 2 Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5V6, Canada Electricity use for transportation has had limited applications because of battery storage range issues, although many recent successful demonstrations of electric vehicles have been achieved. Renewable biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol also contribute only a small percentage of the overall energy mix for mobility. Recent advances in hybrid technologies have significantly increased vehicle efficiencies. More importantly, hybridization now allows a significant reduction in battery capacity requirements compared to pure electric vehicles, allowing electricity to be used in the overall energy mix in the transportation sector. This paper presents an effort made to develop a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) platform that can act as a comprehensive alternative energy vehicle simulator. Its goal is to help in solving the pressing needs of the transportation sector, both in terms of contributing data to aid policy decisions for reducing fossil fuel use, and to support research in this important area. The Simulator will allow analysing different vehicle configurations, and control strategies with regards to renewable and non-renewable fuel and electricity sources. The simulation platform models the fundamental aspects of PHEV components, that is, process control, heat transfer, chemical reactions, thermodynamics and fluid properties. The outcomes of the Simulator are: (i) determining the optimal combination of fuels and grid electricity use, (ii) performing greenhouse gas calculations based on emerging protocols being developed, and (iii) optimizing the efficient and proper use of renewable energy sources in a carbon constrained world. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle • Simulator • Transportation • Control strategies • Energy flow © Versita sp. z o.o. 1. Introduction With production of oil predicted to decline, the number of transportation vehicles continuing to increase globally, and the realization that we live in a carbon constrained world, a transformation of the transportation sector is ∗ E-mail: akarlis@ee.duth.gr inevitable. Next generations of transportation vehicles will not rely exclusively on the use of fossil fuels burnt in an internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the hydrogen fuel cell proposition is not as attractive as first believed, as no gain is possible when the hydrogen is derived from electricity or fossil fuels. Electric vehicles are also still severely limited by their range because of current battery technology; although recent battery improvements have aided commercial implementation, widespread application continues to present significant challenges. An alternative