Powertrain

From WOI Encyclopedia Italia

In a vehicle, the term drivetrain or powertrain refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, driveshafts, differentials, and the final drive (drive wheels, caterpillar track, propeller, etc.). Sometimes "powertrain" is used to refer to simply the engine and transmission, including the other components only if they are integral to the transmission.

A vehicle's driveline consists of the parts of the drivetrain excluding the engine and transmission. It is the portion of a vehicle, after the transmission, that changes depending on whether a vehicle is front wheel drive, four wheel drive, or rear wheel drive.

Broader definition

In a wider sense, the powertrain includes all components to transform chemical, physical or nuclear energy into secondary energy and deliver it to the interface to the outer world for propulsion purposes. This includes the utilisation of multiple power sources and non–wheel-based vehicles.

Developments

Powertrain development for diesel engines involves the following trends: modular injection, electronic valve control (EVC), low pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and advanced combustion. Spark ignition technology has focused on de-throttling (in part load where the low efficiency of Otto engines is defined) and downsizing (lower displacement, EVC).

Attention to new fuel qualities (no sulphur and aromates) allow new combustion concepts. These promise to combine clean combustion with high efficiency. So-called "combined combustion systems" (CCV) (Volkswagen, 2003) or "diesotto" cycles (Mercedes-Benz) are based on synthetic fuels (synthetic diesel, biomass to liquid (BTL) or gas to liquid (GTL)).

The energy management inside the powertrain decoupling energy transformation and propulsion demand is in its infancy, especially in Europe. If acceleration is adapted automatically to follow minimal energy consumption and minimal environmental pollution, performance may suffer. The motor vehicle industry doubts that customers may adopt vehicles in which acceleration responsiveness is reduced. This type of riding has been called "de-emotionalization".

Manufacturing

The manufacturing of powertrain components and systems is a key factor in the competitive position of companies in the automotive and other (truck, motorcycle, tractor, construction equipment…) vehicle industrial sectors. Global economic and environmental factors have led to the requirement to engineer and produce powertrain system that are more economical to manufacture, higher in product quality and reliability, higher in performance, more fuel efficient, less polluting, and longer in life expectancy. In turn these trends have led to designs that involve higher internal pressures, are subject to greater instantaneous forces, and are more complex in their design and mechanical operation. The resulting advanced powertrain designs in turn impose significantly more severe requirements on the shape, flatness, waviness, roughness, and porosity,of powertrain subsystems, as well as limitations on the allowed presence of potential defects in the surfaces and other dimensional characteristics of the system components and assemblies. In addition to improved materials and material forming methods, these requirements have led to advanced metrology technology that more thoroughly and accurately measures and enables improved control of all of the steps in powertrain manufacturing processes.

Frames and powertrains

The frame plus the "running gear" (powertrain) makes the chassis.

Later, a body (sometimes referred to as "coachwork"), which is usually not necessary for integrity of the structure, is built on the chassis to complete the vehicle. Commercial vehicle manufacturers may have “chassis only” and “cowl and chassis” versions that can be outfitted with specialized bodies. These include motor homes, fire engines , ambulances, etc.

The frame plus the body makes a glider (a vehicle without a drivetrain).

External links

Articles relating to Automobile configurations
Car body style and classification	2 plus 2 \| Antique car \| Cabrio coach \| Cabriolet \| City car \| Classic car \| Compact car \| Compact performance car \| Compact SUV \| Convertible \| Coupé \| Coupé convertible \| Coupe Utility \| Crossover SUV \| Custom car \| Drophead coupe \| Fastback \| Full-size car \| Grand tourer \| Hardtop \| Hatchback \| Hot hatch \| Hot rod \| Large family car \| Leisure activity vehicle \| Liftback \| Limousine \| Luxury car \| Microcar \| Mid-size car \| Mini SUV \| Minivan \| Multi-purpose vehicle \| Muscle car \| Notchback \| Personal luxury car \| Pickup truck \| Retractable hardtop \| Roadster \| Sedan \| Saloon \| Small family car \| Sport compact \| Sports car \| Sport utility vehicle \| Spyder \| Station wagon \| Estate car \| Supermini \| Targa top \| Taxicab \| Touring car \| Town car \| T-top \| Ute \| Van \| Voiturette
Specialised vehicles	Gyrocar \| Flying car. Amphibious vehicle
Fuel technologies	Internal combustion engine \| Electric vehicle \| Neighborhood electric vehicle \| Hybrid vehicle \| Battery electric vehicle \| Hydrogen vehicle \| Fuel cell \| Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle \| Steam car \| Alternative fuel cars \| Biodiesel \| Gasohol \| Ethanol \| LPG (Propane) \| Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition \| Liquid Nitrogen \| Gasoline Direct Injection
Driven wheels	Four-wheel drive \| Front-wheel drive \| Rear-wheel drive \| All-wheel drive \| Two-wheel drive
Engine positioning	Front engine \| Rear engine \| Mid engine
Layout	FF layout \| FR layout \| MR layout \| MF layout \| RR layout
Engine configuration	Internal combustion engine \| Straight-6 \| V engine \| Wankel engine \| Reciprocating engine \| Inline engine \| Flat engine \| Flathead engine \| Diesel engine \| Two-stroke cycle \| Four-stroke cycle \| Pushrod engine \| Straight engine \| H engine \| Turbodiesel \| Hybrid vehicle \| Rechargeable energy storage system \| Electric vehicle \| Hydrogen vehicle

Body	Framework	A-pillar \| Bumper \| Cabrio coach \| Chassis \| Crumple zone \| Body-on-frame \| Dagmar bumpers \| Fender \| Fender skirts \| Grille \| Hood \| Hood scoop \| Monocoque construction \| Pontoon fenders \| Quarter panel \| Shaker scoop \| Spoiler \| Subframe \| Tonneau
Doors	Butterfly doors \| Gull-wing door \| Scissor doors \| Suicide door
Glass	Sunroof \| Greenhouse \| Windshield
Other	Antenna ball \| Hood ornament \| Japan Black paint \| Nerf bar \| Truck accessory \| Bumper sticker
Exterior Equipment	Lighting	Daytime running lamp \| Headlamp \| Headlight styling \| Hidden headlamps \| Retroreflector \| Sealed beam \| Trafficators \| High intensity discharge
Exterior Equipment	Other	British car number plates \| Distance sensor \| US and Canadian license plates \| Vanity plate \| Vehicle registration plate \| Windscreen wiper \| Windshield washer fluid
Car engine	Air/Fuel	Air filter \| Automatic Performance Control \| Blowoff valve \| Boost \| Boost controller \| Butterfly valve \| Carburetor \| Charge cooler \| Centrifugal type supercharger \| Cold air intake \| Engine management system \| Engine Control Unit \| Forced induction \| Front mounted intercooler \| Fuel filter \| Fuel injection \| Fuel pump \| Fuel tank \| Gasoline direct injection \| Indirect injection \| Intake \| Intercooler \| Manifold \| Manifold vacuum \| Mass flow sensor \| Naturally-aspirated engine \| Ram-air intake \| Scroll-type supercharger \| Short ram air intake \| Supercharger \| Throttle body \| Top mounted intercooler \| Turbocharger \| Turbocharged Direct Injection \| Twin-turbo \| Variable Length Intake Manifold \| Variable geometry turbocharger. Warm air intake
	Exhaust	Catalytic converter \| Emissions control devices \| Exhaust pipe \| Exhaust system \| Glasspack \| Muffler \| Oxygen sensor
	Cooling	Aircooling \| Antifreeze \| Ethylene glycol \| Radiator \| Thermostat
	Ignition system	Starter \| Car battery \| Contact breaker \| Distributor \| Electrical ballast \| Ignition coil \| Lead-acid battery \| Magneto \| Spark-ignition \| Spark plug
	Other	Balance shaft \| Block heater \| Crank. Cam \| Camshaft \| Connecting rod \| Combustion chamber \| Crank pin \| Crankshaft \| Crossflow cylinder head \| Crossplane \| Desmodromic valve \| Engine knocking \| Compression ratio \| Crank sensor \| Cylinder \| Cylinder bank \| Cylinder block \| Cylinder head \| Cylinder head porting \| Dump valve,Engine balance \| Oil filter \| Firing order \| Freeze plug \| Gasket \| Head gasket \| Hypereutectic piston \| Hydrolock \| Lean burn \| Main bearing \| Motor oil \| Multi-valve \| Oil sludge \| Overhead camshaft \| Overhead valve \| PCV valve \| Piston \| Piston ring \| Pneumatic valve gear \| Poppet valve \| Power band \| Redline \| Reverse-flow cylinder head \| Rocker arm \| Seal \| Sleeve valve \| Starter ring gear \| Synthetic oil \| Tappet \| Timing belt \| Timing mark \| Top dead centre \| Underdrive pulleys \| Valve float \| Variable valve timing
Interior equipment	Instruments	Backup camera \| Boost gauge \| Buzzer \| Car computer \| Carputer \| Check Engine light \| Fuel gauge \| Global Positioning System \| Idiot light \| Navigation system \| Odometer \| Speedometer \| Tachometer \| Trip computer
	Controls	Bowden cable \| Cruise control \| Electronic throttle control \| Hand brake \| Manettino dial \| Steering wheel \| Throttle \| Gear stick
	Motor vehicle theft deterrence	Car alarm \| ESITrack \| Immobiliser \| Klaxon \| Vehicle tracking system \| VIN etching
	Passenger safety & seating	Airbag \| Armrest \| Automatic seatbelt \| Bench seat \| Bucket seat \| Child safety lock \| Dicky seat \| Passive safety \| Rumble seat \| Seat belt
	Other	Air conditioning \| Ancillary power \| Car audio \| Car phone \| Center console \| Dashboard \| Motorola connector \| Power window \| Rear-view mirror \| TripSense
Powertrain	Wheels and Tires	All-terrain tyre \| Bias-ply tire \| Contact patch \| Custom wheel \| Drive wheel \| Hubcap \| Magnesium alloy wheel \| Mud-terrain tyre \| Paddle tires \| Radial tire \| Rostyle wheel \| Run flat tires \| Schrader valve \| Slick tire \| Spinner \| Tire code \| Tread \| Treadwear rating \| Whitewall tire \| Wire wheels
	Transmission	Automatic transmission \| Clutch \| Continuously variable transmission \| Differential \| Driveshaft \| Electrorheological clutch \| Epicyclic gearing \| Fluid coupling \| Fully-automatic transmission \| Gear stick \| Gearbox \| Hydramatic \| Limited slip differential \| Locking differential \| Manual transmission \| Roto Hydramatic \| Saxomat \| Semi-automatic transmission \| Semi-automatic transmission \| Super Turbine 300 \| Tiptronic Torque converter \| Transmission (mechanics) \| Transmission Control Unit \| Turbo-Hydramatic \| Universal joint
	Steering	Ackermann steering geometry \| Anti-lock braking system \| Camber angle \| Car handling \| Caster angle \| Oversteer \| Power steering \| Rack and pinion \| Toe angle \| Torque steering \| Understeer
	Suspension	Axle \| Beam axle \| Coil spring \| De Dion tube \| Double wishbone \| Electronic Stability Control \| Hydragas \| Hydrolastic \| Hydropneumatic suspension \| Independent suspension \| Kingpin \| Leaf spring \| Live axle \| MacPherson strut \| Multi-link suspension \| Panhard rod \| Semi-trailing arm suspension \| Shock absorber \| Sway bar \| Swing axle \| Torsion beam suspension \| Transaxle \| Trailing arm \| Unsprung weight \| Watt's linkage \| Wishbone suspension
	Brakes	Anti-lock braking system \| Disc brake \| Drum brake \| Hand brake \| Hydraulic brake \| Inboard brake \| Brake lining \| Brake fade \| Brake fluid \| Hydraulic fluid \| Brake bleeding \| Engine braking \| Electronic brakeforce distribution \| Regenerative brake

Powertrain

From WOI Encyclopedia Italia

Contents

Broader definition

Developments

Manufacturing

Frames and powertrains

See also

External links

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