Hooper, PR2019-07-102019-07-10International Journal of Engine Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680874198590841468-08742041-3149https://hdl.handle.net/10292/12651Consideration of internal combustion engine formats suitable for hybrid or range extender electric vehicles usually focuses on selecting a power plant, which is as compact as possible to meet the demands and constraints of the installation. In-line three-cylinder engines often provide an attractive solution for such vehicles. This article presents a low emission two-stroke engine of in-line three-cylinder format and draws a comparison with an equivalent four-stroke engine. The particular focus of the analysis is on strategies for minimization of noise, vibration and harshness with significant reduction in piston lateral force compared with the four-stroke unit. The design also considers a balance shaft arrangement to further assist with noise, vibration and harshness reduction. The presented arrangement demonstrates an integrated induction control/balance shaft arrangement, which erodes the usual cost penalties typical of balance shaft consideration in three-cylinder engines.Under SAGE's Green Open Access policy, upon the article being accepted for publication, the Accepted Version of the article may be posted in the author's institutional repository.Hybrid electric vehicle; Range extender electric vehicle; Stepped piston engine; Two-stroke cycle engine; Four-stroke cycle engine; Noise vibration and harshness; Engine modelling/simulation; Three-cylinder engine; Balance shaftJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1177/1468087419859084