Driveline Factor for Traction and Acceleration Performance Design

A vehicle’s ability to utilize its maximum power is limited by the configuration of its driveline system and the interactions between the tire and ground that it influences. This paper presents a design factor for assessment of the vehicle driveline’s ability to convert the powertrain power into traction and acceleration performance realized in the tire-surface interactions. The factor is based on the dynamic factor, which characterizes the remaining vehicle potential available after subtracting the aerodynamic drag. The dynamic factor is computed using the vehicle’s actual and theoretical velocity (with and without tire slippage). Through comparison of the integral dynamic factors, the driveline design factor which assesses the influence of the driveline system on the quality of the power conversion is derived.