Hyundai develops world first active shift control tech for hybrids

Active Shift Control transmission technology improves gear-shift efficiency for hybrid vehicles and is now set for mass production; reduces gearshift times by 30%, adds to driving fun, and improves fuel economy.

By Autocar Pro News Desk

19 Jul 2019

8656 Views

Active Shift Control claimed to reduce gearshift times by 30%, add to driving fun, and also improve fuel economy.

The in-house developed, world-first technology is set for mass production. It will premiere in the upcoming Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and eventually future Hyundai and Kia hybrids.

Hyundai Motor Group has developed the world’s first Active Shift Control (ASC) transmission technology. The innovation optimises transmission efficiency by monitoring gearshifts 500 times per second, precisely adjusting the transmission rotation speed to for faster shift times.

The new technology will premiere in the upcoming Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and eventually benefit other upcoming Hyundai and Kia hybrids.

ASC applies new control logic software to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU), which then controls the electric motor to align the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission to reduce gear shift time by 30 percent. The technology also delivers smoother gear changes despite quicker shift times.

“The development of world’s first ASC technology is a remarkable innovation which incorporates precise motor control to automatic transmission,” said KyoungJoon Chang, Vice President and Head of Powertrain Control System Group of Hyundai Motor Group, “It will not only save fuel but also provide a more fun driving experience for our customers.”

Reducing gear shift time by 30 percent
Conventional hybrid vehicles do not have torque converters in order to further improve fuel economy as torque converters lose energy during the process of transmission. Although fuel efficient, such a system also requires longer shift times to ensure smoother gear changes.

ASC technology allows the hybrid’s electric motor to also take control of gear shifts by applying new software logic to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) to mitigate issues with slower shift time. The HCU monitors the rotational speed of transmission with a sensor installed inside the electric motor at 500 times per second to quickly synchronise the rotational speed with that of engine.

With the synchronisation, shift time is reduced by 30 percent from 500ms to 350ms. This not only improves hybrid vehicle’s acceleration performance and fuel economy, but also durability of the transmission by minimising friction during gearshift.

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