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Increasingly stringent pollutant emission regulations and a customer demand for a high-fuel economy drive the modern automotive industry to hurriedly solve the problem of decarbonization and powertrain efficiency, leading R&D towards alternative powertrain solutions and fuels. Electrification, today, plays the biggest role in the topic, with Mild Hybrid Electrified Vehicles (MHEVs) being the most cost-effective architectures, displaying dominance in smaller markets such as Brazil. One of the biggest challenges for HEVs' development is the complexity of the hybrid control system, knowing when to actuate the electric machine, and the optimum power delivery, plus the gearshift schedule becomes a hard optimization problem that plays a key role in powertrain efficiency and cost savings for the customer. This paper proposes the implementation of a genetic algorithm (GA) as a machine learning-based control strategy to determine the torque split and the gear engaged for each driving condition of an MHEV operation, aiming to optimize fuel consumption. A quasi-static model of the vehicle was developed in Matlab/Simulink version 2022b, the virtual vehicle was then tested following the FTP75 and HWFET driving cycles. Simulation results indicate that the control decisions taken by the GA are qualitatively coherent for all operation conditions, and even quantitatively coherent in some cases, and that the software has the potential to be used as a control strategy outside the simulation environment, in future steps of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a unique panel dataset on air pollution and car sales from thirty major cities in China across three years, we estimate the impact of air pollution on the adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles. To identify the causal effect, we use three sets of interactive fixed effects to control for a large group of potential confounders and an instrument for the air pollution variable. Our results show that worse air quality leads consumers to purchase more hybrid and electric cars, and the effect is larger in cities with higher incomes. These findings are consistent with predictions from the social preferences theory and point out new directions for strategies to promote the adoption of hybrid and electric cars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study utilizes open-access data to generate power demand curves for a hybrid automotive system, testing twelve configurations with three different energy management strategies and four values for the degree of hybridization (DOH), the latter representing the share of the total power of the vehicle powertrain supplied by the battery. The first control logic (Battery Main—BTM) uses mainly batteries to satisfy the power demand and fuel cells as backup, while in the other two controllers, fuel cells operate continuously (Fuel Cell Main—FCM) or within a fixed range (Fuel Cell Fixed—FCF) using batteries as backup. The results are assessed in terms of H2 consumption, overall system efficiency, and fuel cell predicted lifespan. The battery is heavily stressed in the BTM and FCF logics, while the FCM logic uses the battery only occasionally to cover load peaks. This is reflected in the battery's State of Charge (SOC), indicating different battery stress levels between the BTM and FCF modes. The FCF logic has higher stress levels due to load demand, reducing battery lifetime. In the BTM and FCM modes, the fuel cell operates with variable power, while in the FCF mode, the fuel cell operates in a range between 90 and 105% of its rated power to ensure its lifetime. In the BTM and FCM modes, hydrogen consumption decreases at almost the same rate as the DOH increases, due to a decrease in battery capacity and a smaller amount of hydrogen being used to recharge it. In contrast, the FCF control logic results in a larger fuel consumption when the DOH decreases. In terms of FC durability, the FCF control logic performs better, with a predicted lifetime ranging from 1815 h for DOH = 0.5 to 2428 h for DOH = 0.1. The FCM logic has the worst performance, with a predicted lifetime of 800 to 808 h, being almost insensitive to the DOH variation. Simulations were performed on two different driving cycles, and similar trends were observed. Simulations taking into account fuel cell (FC) performance degradation showed an increase in hydrogen consumption of approximately 38% after 12 years. Overall, this study highlights the importance of optimizing control systems to improve the performance of fuel cell hybrid vehicles, also taking into account the component of performance degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, it can be seen that the automotive market has been developing quite rapidly, especially when it comes to electric cars. This is because the development of sustainable cars seems to be an extremely important issue at the moment. Nowadays, cars with different propulsion systems (among others electric, hybrid, gas, or hydrogen) can be met on the roads. But, political action is mainly aimed at electric cars. Such an approach will certainly lead to fundamental changes in production processes in the near future via the emergence and development of new technologies in the field of electric passenger cars. Therefore, the manuscript discusses the concept of vehicles with different types of power supply, with the main emphasis on electric vehicles. The essence of electric vehicles, their genesis, rationale for development, and growth are indicated. The different markets around the world, through the prism of, on the one hand, programs supporting the purchase and use of this type of vehicle and, on the other hand, factors limiting and inhibiting their uptake, are also discussed. The research was conducted in a group of both current and potential drivers from Eastern Poland, with different categories of grouping variables used in the analyses. On the basis of the research carried out and the results obtained, it can be argued that due to various factors, the respondents' opinions are varied, and there are no unambiguous conclusions stating that such solutions will soon be available. Indeed, a number of doubts and barriers were noted among respondents. Driver preferences are therefore a key issue, but production capacity and the profitability of investments in the purchase of vehicles with an electric power supply should also be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal management of the batteries in electrical and hybrid vehicles is a major concern for operation safety, battery life, and performance. In the current research, the temperature of the battery is tracked for 10,000 s of operation while using a Ranque–Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT) for the thermal management of the battery. An analytical model is developed and validated to study the impact of the heat generated per unit volume from the battery, the mass ratio for the cold air at the outlet to the total air at the inlet (x), entered air pressure, temperature, and mass flow rate. The peak temperature of the battery can be reduced by increasing the pressure and mass flow rate of the air at the inlet, decreasing the temperature of the air at the inlet, and using four RHVTs instead of a single RHVT. The proposed system significantly decreased the maximum temperature of the battery to 48.12 °C, compared to the battery thermal management method of using direct air, which resulted in a temperature of 75.73 °C. Furthermore, employing four RHVTs to cool the battery further reduced the maximum temperature from 48.12 to 11.23 °C, demonstrating a substantial improvement compared to utilizing a single RHVT. Utilizing the RHVT provides a good solution for the battery thermal management problem because it is cheap, small, and reduces the temperature of the air rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonization will allow the automotive sector to achieve net-zero greenhouse gases emissions. Electric and hydrogen vehicles will contribute to that final target. Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicles FCHEVs aim at solving some of the issues of the otherwise standalone options: higher range in comparison with Battery Electric Vehicles, and allowing the fuel cell to be downsized, operated at greater efficiency, and less exposed to degradation. In this paper, a FCHEV Digital Twin DT is proposed to characterize the vehicle behavior during the WLTP driving cycle with accurate modeling of the auxiliary systems. Two control strategies, Range Extender and optimized Fuzzy logic control, are compared to show the impact on the vehicle and components performance and highlight the impact, energy-wise, of such systems in the Balance of Plant. Increased range by nearly 30 km is demonstrated while simultaneously limiting load stresses on the battery pack. • Detailed modeling of Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle (powertrain and auxiliaries). • Vehicle auxiliaries account for almost 35–45% of the total energy consumption. • Ambient temperature strongly impacts on vehicle range (up to 13% of reduction). • HVAC is the most impacting auxiliary subsystem from energy standpoint. • Optimized fuzzy logic control increases range up to 4.5% respect to Range Extender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that climate change is caused by human activities. This case study presents findings on the vehicle use by the Department of Health in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng province, South Africa. The objectives of this study are to estimate the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of government fleet vehicles and to identify mitigation measures to reduce the vehicle carbon emissions. Both the World Resource Institute Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and the United Kingdom Department of Environmental Forestry and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) methodologies were used. The study revealed that the government fleet vehicles emitted 1362 t CO2e for a five year period (2010 − 2014), which is equivalent to $ 9 071 of the South African carbon tax. Various measures to reduce CO2e emissions were recommended, money saving from fuel and potential revenue generating opportunities were identified, including the use of hybrid vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive sector has been experiencing a rapid development in recent times. Modern trends aim at the progress of so-called sustainable, eco-friendly vehicles, in many cases associated with advanced technologies and assistance systems. It is increasingly common to see cars with electric, hybrid, gas or hydrogen propulsion systems. Such approaches can create a transformation of manufacturing processes towards the growth of new types and fields of technologies and systems in the automotive industry. The manuscript discusses the subject of vehicles with various types of power supply, i.e., propulsion system. The investigation was executed with different respondent groups whereby the analysis was performed predominantly by using two merging criteria such as place of residence and gender of respondents. Following the research conducted, we state that given a variety of variables, the majority of the respondents are convinced that, prospectively, electric and hybrid vehicles in all probability will be the prevailing types of vehicles occurring on the roads of the Czech Republic. However, it is also important to analyze the situation of the current access to energy resources for manufacturing of both kinds of vehicles and, above all, their utilization. Thus, the preferences of drivers are key issues, but it is also necessary to take into consideration the production capacity and investment profitability regarding the purchase of vehicles with modern types of propulsion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current understanding of CO2 emission concentrations in hybrid vehicles (HVs) is limited, due to the complexity of the constant changes in their power-train sources. This study aims to address this problem by examining the accuracy, speed and size of traditional and advanced machine learning (ML) models for predicting CO2 emissions in HVs. A new long short-term memory (LSTM)-based model called UWS-LSTM has been developed to overcome the deficiencies of existing models. The dataset collected includes more than 20 parameters, and an extensive input feature optimization has been conducted to determine the most effective parameters. The results indicate that the UWS-LSTM model outperforms traditional ML and artificial neural network (ANN)-based models by achieving 97.5% accuracy. Furthermore, to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed model, the CO2-concentration predictor has been implemented in a low-powered IoT device embedded in a commercial HV, resulting in rapid predictions with an average latency of 21.64 ms per prediction. The proposed algorithm is fast, accurate and computationally efficient, and it is anticipated that it will make a significant contribution to the field of smart vehicle applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation sector has the highest energy demand worldwide and bears the primary responsibility for CO2 emissions. Electromobility has emerged as the most feasible way to alleviate this problem. However, its potential depends heavily on the development of renewable energies. Island regions raise additional barriers to electromobility due to their heavy dependence on fossil fuels. This article addresses this challenge by presenting a comprehensive well-to-wheel framework to assess the levels of efficiency and CO2 emissions of electromobility options such as battery and plug-in electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs). The results were compared with those for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). The framework proposed takes account of various factors including the extraction, refining, and transport of oil, different segments of land vehicles, and electricity system operations. The framework is demonstrated with a case study of the Spanish Canary archipelago. The results show that BEVs improve efficiency and CO2 emissions by around 30% compared to ICEVs on islands where the share of renewable energies is higher than 21%. In contrast, limited renewable generation may lead to BEVs polluting up to 15% more than ICEVs. PHEVs should be considered as a suitable alternative if the share of renewable generation is higher than 35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rapid expansion of electric vehicles (EVs), they are expected to be one of the main contributors to transportation. The increasing use of fossil fuels as one of the most available energy sources has led to the emission of greenhouse gases, which will play a vital role in achieving a sustainable transportation system. Developed and developing countries have long-term plans and policies to use EVs instead of internal combustion vehicles and to use renewable energy to generate electricity, which increases the number of charging stations. Recently, to meet the charging demand for EVs, the main focus of researchers has been on smart charging solutions. In addition, maintaining power quality and peak demand for grids has become very difficult due to the widespread deployment of EVs as personal and commercial vehicles. This paper provides information on EV charging control that can be used to improve the design and implementation of charging station infrastructure. An in-depth analysis of EV types, global charging standards, and the architectures of AC-DC and DC-DC converters are covered in this review article. In addition, investigating the role of EV collectors, as well as EV penetration, in electric energy systems to facilitate the integration of electric energy systems with renewable energy sources is one of the main goals of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen electric locomotives are receiving growing attention and progressing towards net zero. This letter discusses the improvement of traditional diesel-electric locomotives to use hydrogen and reduce energy demand. An internal combustion engine featuring direct injection and jet ignition of the hydrogen is proposed. The four-strokes, 12 L, V12 engine achieves peak power of 750 kW and peak efficiency above 46%. The propulsion system may be further optimized by adopting battery energy storage to buffer the operation of the engine and provide extra power when accelerating. This way, the engine may be further optimized to work over a narrower range of speeds and loads and be made smaller to provide reduced power. • Conversion of diesel locomotives to hydrogen is straightforward. • Use of a larger traction battery help with energy recovery. • It also helps using a smaller engine to work more efficiently. • Fuel cell alternative has efficiency advantage, but weight, volume, power density, and TRL disadvantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy management in electrified vehicles is critical and directly impacts the global operating efficiency, durability, driveability, and safety of the vehicle powertrain. Given the multitude of components of these powertrains, the complexity of the proper control is significantly higher than the conventional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). Hence, several control algorithms and numerical methods have been developed and implemented in order to optimize the operation of the hybrid powertrain while complying with the required boundary conditions. In this work, a model-based method is used for predicting the impacts of a set of possible control actions, choosing the one minimizing the associated costs. In particular, the energy management technique used in the present study is the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS). The novelty of this work consists of taking into account the thermal state of the ICE for optimization. This feature was implemented by means of an extensive experimental campaign at different coolant temperatures of the ICE to calibrate the additional fuel consumption due to operating the engine outside of its optimum temperature. The results showed significant gains in both WLTC and RDE cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid vehicles account for the largest share of new motor vehicle sales in Europe. These are vehicles that are expected to bridge the technological gap between vehicles with internal combustion engines and electric vehicles. Such a solution also makes it possible to meet the limits of motor vehicle emissions, at a time when it is particularly important to test them under actual traffic conditions. This article analyzes the impact of the length of the test routes in relation to current, but also future regulations of approval standards. Three routes of post-phase composition (urban, rural, motorway) with lengths of about 30, 16 and 8 km were selected for the study. Measurements of the main emission components were made using portable emission measurement systems (PEMS), and exhaust emissions were determined using the moving average window (MAW) method. Analysis of the obtained results led to the conclusion that the current requirements for the RDE test (in particular, the duration of the test) enforce a length of each part of 32 km. Reducing the test to 60–90 min causes the individual phases to last 16 km, and the main advantage of such a solution is the very strong influence of the cold start phase on the emission results in the urban phase. Future declarations by lawmakers to drastically reduce the length of the test phases to 8 km will force hybrid vehicles to be tested largely using the internal combustion engine. This will be the right thing to do, especially in the urban phase, as now in addition to a significant reduction in the engine warm-up phase, manufacturers will have to take into account that such an engine thermal condition can also occur in the rural phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid electric vehicles are promising solutions to the need for cleaner transport. Their ability to drive fully electric also opens the possibility of zero local emission operation by turning off the internal combustion engine. However, prolonged periods with the engine turned off result in a cooldown of the aftertreatment system resulting in increased emissions when the engine is restarted. To remedy this problem, an emission management strategy that, based on pre-heating of the aftertreatment system, aims to reduce the impact of a prolonged engine-off event on NO x emissions is developed. The method works by locating each engine-off event and then handling each event separately using an optimization scheme that combines pre-heating and a causal heuristic emission management strategy. The individual events are linked using an equivalence factor that describes the decided trade-off between fuel and NO x . The equivalence factor can be chosen heuristically or iteratively to give the desired result in terms of NO x reduction and fuel consumption. The strategy is evaluated using simulations of a drayage drive cycle with multiple engine-off events. The results from the simulations show that for engine-off times below 0.5 h the strategy can reduce NO x compared to the baseline strategy while using the same amount of fuel. If the strategy is allowed more fuel, significant reductions in NO x can be seen for engine-off times up to 1.5 h, after which an exponential decay in the effectivity of the strategy is observed. It is also shown that the reduction in NO x is fairly linear in the equivalence factor, which gives the procedure of choosing it a predictable behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors compare the energy consumption and CO2 emissions from vehicles using internal combustion engines (ICE), battery electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), and two types of hybrid vehicles, BEV-ICE hybrid and BEV-FCEV hybrid. This paper considers several scenarios for four countries' electricity production from primary energy sources to estimate total CO2 release. Energy consumption of the vehicle per 100 km, emissions during manufacturing, battery production, and lifecycle of the vehicle are considered in the total amount evaluation of CO2 released. The results show that with current technologies for battery manufacturing, and a significant proportion of national grid electricity delivered by fossil fuels, BEV is the best choice to reduce carbon emissions for shorter driving ranges. In the case of electricity generation mainly by low-carbon sources, FCEV and BEV-FCEV hybrid vehicles end up with lower carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast, with electricity mainly generated from fossil fuels, electric vehicles do not reduce CO2 emissions compared to combustion cars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are a promising technology for reducing the tailpipe emissions of CO2 as well as air pollutants, especially in urban environments. However, several studies raise questions over their after-treatment exhaust efficiency when their internal combustion engine (ICE) ignites. The rationale is the high ICE load during the cold start in combination with the cold conditions of the after-treatment devices. In this study, we measured the solid particle number (SPN) emissions of two Euro 6d and one Euro 6d-TEMP gasoline direct injection (GDI) PHEVs (electric range 52–61 km) all equipped with a gasoline particulate filter, in the laboratory and on-road with different states of charge of the rechargeable electric energy storage system (REESS) and ambient temperatures. All vehicles met the regulation limits but it was observed that, even for fully charged REESS, when the ICE ignited SPN emissions were similar or even higher in some cases compared to the operation of these vehicles solely with their ICE (discharged REESS) and also when compared to conventional GDI vehicles. On-road SPN emission rate spikes during the first 30 s after a cold start were, on average, 2 to 15 times higher with charged compared to discharged REESS due to higher SPN concentrations and exhaust flow rates. For one vehicle in the laboratory under identical driving conditions, the ICE ignition at high load resulted in 10-times-higher SPN emission rate spikes at cold-start compared to hot-start. At −10 °C, for all tested vehicles, the ICE ignited at the beginning of the cycle even when the REESS was fully charged, and SPN emissions increased from 30% to 80% compared to the cycle at 23 °C in which the ICE ignited. The concentration of particles below 23 nm, which is the currently regulated lower particle size, was low (≤18%), showing that particles larger than 23 nm were mainly emitted irrespective of cold or hot engine operation and ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores environmental hypocrisy, wherein individuals or groups profess pro-environmental beliefs but engage in incongruent behaviors. This study investigates whether the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) in the United States reflects genuine concern for the environment or a form of environmental hypocrisy. It makes use of panel U.S. state-level data to examine how pro-environmental attitudes influence the adoption of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs), and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The study provides evidence of environmental hypocrisy, which is supported by the fact that U.S. states with a higher proportion of survey respondents expressing pro-environmental attitudes exhibit a reduced preference for HEVs. In addition, the adoption of PHEVs and PEVs does not correlate significantly with pro-environmental sentiments; rather, economic considerations emerge as the primary influencing factor. The policy recommendations offered depend on the specific focus of policymakers. For those aiming to boost EHV adoption through any means, the study suggests short-term measures aligning with individual preferences of EHV buyers. However, for those who seek to tackle environmental hypocrisy, it is essential to go beyond individual actions and consider collective and systemic changes that foster a genuine commitment to environmental responsibility over the long term. • Electric and hybrid vehicle adoptions can help reduce environmental emissions. • Study evaluates environmental hypocrisy in electric and hybrid vehicle adoption. • Pro-environmental attitudes correlate negatively with hybrid vehicle adoptions. • Economic, not environmental concerns, drive plug-in vehicle adoptions. • Short-term and long-term policies are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revolution is underway in transportation, with a variety of electric vehicles rapidly coming to the fore. The switch from internal combustion engines to electric motors will change the world in many ways and is expected to help reduce the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. Inspired by this vision, leaders in China, France, and Britain have all proclaimed that they will effectively ban cars that aren’t electric by about 2040, while Volvo says all of its vehicles will be powered by electric motors in a few years. Other automakers have also announced that they are headed that way. But how far along is this revolution really? What challenges still need to be overcome to gain truly widespread acceptance on a scale that can combat climate change? Will the costs and the benefits of these new vehicles be equally spread among countries and companies? And while we all benefit in the long term, who will be the winners and the losers in our short-term world where Wall Street thinking predominates? [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study proposes the use and management of hybrid storage systems to power hybrid electric vehicles with the aim of reducing the negative effects of high current values on battery cycling life. Findings derive from a case study on a commercial plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with battery pack operations supported by a Lithium-ion Capacitor module. Specific experimental laboratory activities focused on the parametrization and validation of an equivalent circuit model representing the behavior of Lithium-ion capacitors for integration into the overall vehicle model (designed calibrated and validated on the basis of data from on-board data acquisition and measurement systems). The simulation platform was used to test various energy management strategies for the hybrid storage system supplying the vehicle during real driving cycles characterized by different operating conditions and driving styles. Results highlight the benefits of using the considered management strategies in terms of battery durability, allowing performance comparison for different driving routes and styles. • Energy management strategies for hybrid storage system are proposed for the case study of a commercial hybrid vehicle. • Detailed vehicle and storage simulation models have been implemented in AVL CruiseM environment. • Experimental activities are carried out to perform model parametrization and validation. • The application and main advantages of the proposed strategies are evaluated for the vehicle running on RDE cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes the use and management of hybrid storage systems to power hybrid electric vehicles with the aim of reducing the negative effects of high current values on battery cycling life. Findings derive from a case study on a commercial plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with battery pack operations supported by a Lithium-ion Capacitor module. Specific experimental laboratory activities focused on the parametrization and validation of an equivalent circuit model representing the behavior of Lithium-ion capacitors for integration into the overall vehicle model (designed calibrated and validated on the basis of data from on-board data acquisition and measurement systems). The simulation platform was used to test various energy management strategies for the hybrid storage system supplying the vehicle during real driving cycles characterized by different operating conditions and driving styles. Results highlight the benefits of using the considered management strategies in terms of battery durability, allowing performance comparison for different driving routes and styles. • Energy management strategies for hybrid storage system are proposed for the case study of a commercial hybrid vehicle. • Detailed vehicle and storage simulation models have been implemented in AVL CruiseM environment. • Experimental activities are carried out to perform model parametrization and validation. • The application and main advantages of the proposed strategies are evaluated for the vehicle running on RDE cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and electric and hybrid vehicles (EHVs) are among many solutions that can help reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and their resulting GHG emissions. This study addresses the significant and understudied question of how EHVs' adoption influences CO 2 emissions using panel U.S. state-level data over the 2016-2019 period and fixed effects. The study finds no statistically significant relationship between the adoption of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and CO 2 emissions. These findings could be explained by adoption rates of HEVs and PHEVs that are too low to manifest statistically significant reductions in CO 2 emissions from the potential displacement of internal-combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). The findings also align with observations indicating that PEVs, although emission-free, are frequently adopted as supplementary rather than primary vehicles by multi-vehicle households in the U.S. The complexities surrounding EHVs and their impact on CO 2 emissions highlight the importance of further research in understanding the role these vehicles play in the larger context of sustainable transportation as well as more nuanced research into adoption patterns, potential policy interventions, and broader environmental implications. [Display omitted] • Electric and hybrid vehicles can reduce emissions and fight climate change. • The relationship between electric and hybrid vehicles and CO 2 emissions is examined. • U.S. state-level data for the 2016-2019 period are used for the analysis. • There is no evidence that electric and hybrid vehicle adoptions reduce emissions. • Various plausible explanations of the results and recommendations are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) have been in the market for over 10 years; however, their market diffusion has been slow despite their environmental and social advantages. Their high purchase cost is one of the most significant barriers towards their wider adoption. Policy makers have used the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) estimate to expose the lower fuel and maintenance cost of BEVs relative to gasoline-based vehicles. In this paper, a model is developed for private consumers on the principles of the TCO that assesses different vehicle technologies and incorporates the consumers' preferences when purchasing a new vehicle. The TCO model is applied on three representative vehicle technologies, including an Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV), a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and a BEV; for three vehicle classes (i.e., small, medium and SUV), resulting in the assessment of nine vehicle models. The TCO is quantified by using data for France. A weighted TCO per vehicle is also estimated by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to incorporate the consumers' preference on TCO parameters. The TCO and the Weighted Average Cost (WAC) estimates for each vehicle are used to assess the nine vehicle models and compare results. The ICEV has the lowest TCO for the small and medium classes, while the BEV is ranked as the most economic vehicle for the SUV class. As the WAC is greatly influenced by the purchase cost, vehicle rankings change for only one class. Our method suggests that a dynamic TCO should capture consumers' preferences and support policy makers to adjust incentives at local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: These days vehicles' spare parts (SPs) are a very big market, and there is a very high demand for these parts. Forecasting vehicles' SPs price and demand are difficult because of the lack of data and the pricing of the SPs is not following the normal value chain methods like normal products. Design/methodology/approach: A proposed model using multiple linear regression was developed as a guide to forecasting demand and price for vehicles' SPs. A case study of selected hybrid vehicle is held to validate the results of the research. This research is an original study depending on quantitative and qualitative methods; some factors are generated from realistic data or are calculated using numerical equations and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method; online questionnaire and expert interview survey. Findings: The price and demand for SPs have a linear relationship with some independent variables is the hypothesis that is tested. Even though the proposed models are generally recommended for predicting demand and price, in this research the linear relationship models are not significant enough to calculate the expected price and demand. Originality/value: This research should concern both academics and practitioners since it provides new intuitions on the distinctions between scientific and industrial world regarding SPs for vehicles as it is the first study that investigates price and demand of vehicles' SPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three stator cooling jacket concepts, including a new cooling jacket concept with parallel straight spiral channels, are evaluated for electric machine of mild hybrid electric car. Steady-state cooling jacket thermal flow analysis and transient-state full motor simulations with circumferential, axial, and spiral jacket concepts are carried out to predict their heat transfer performance and temperature distribution. A prototype motor has been made with the new jacket concept. Infrared thermography is performed to detect the transient temperature distribution of the motor stator windings and laminations for validation of the thermal flow analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the research to improve the performance of motor generator for integrated starter generator (ISG) mounted on ecofriendly vehicles. The ISG must be able to start the engine by high torque at the starting mode and generate electric power at the generating mode. In particular, the existing automotive generator is a field winding alternator of CLAW POLE structure, so wound field synchronous machine (WFSM) was used in early ISG. However, it is difficult to control the starting of WFSM with instantaneous high starting torque required at the start and high field current is applied to field windings to generate the magnetic flux. But high field current generates high heat shortening the life of the device. Therefore, consequent pole wound field synchronous machine (CPWFSM) as a novel structure is proposed in this article. It is possible to generate instantaneous high torque easily at starting because of permanent magnet (PM). In the generating mode, CPWFSM can generate power in a wide operation speed that is proposed by taking advantage of WFSM. CPWFSM consists of consequent pole and field winding in the rotor. So it generates high torque with high responsiveness at starting compared with WFSM and it has the advantage of generating output power using low field current at various speed areas because of PM. Simulation of CPWFSM and WFSM is performed by finite-element method (FEM) of ANSYS Electromagnetic Suite (EM 19.0) software, and the experimental results are compared by the dynamo experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the climatic changes, there is a universal commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially those due to mobility. A particular interest is addressed to hybrid propulsion systems, which are currently considered as viable candidates for a sustainable mobility. Within this commitment, the study proposes an approach to improve the cost‐effectiveness, compactness and reliability of the electric drive unit of hybrid propulsion systems. This is achieved thanks to different associations of brushless DC motors (BDCMs) and reduced topologies of DC/AC converters such as the four switch inverter and three switch inverter. A special attention is focused upon the analysis of the sequences and commutations characterising the six‐phase and three‐phase BDCM drive operation. Implementation schemes of dedicated control strategies are given. Moreover, a comparison of selected features related to the ratings of the investigated BDCM drives is carried out and commented. Experimental results are provided to validate the performances of a reduced structure inverter fed three‐phase BDCM under the dedicated control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through analytical equations followed by a systematic optimization study using high-fidelity finite-element (FE) models, the torque capability of three common synchronous machine technologies—namely, a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous machine (PMSM) with V-shaped rare-earth rotor magnets, a PMSM with deep V-shaped ferrite rotor magnets, and a synchronous reluctance machine (SynRM) with four layers of conforming flux barriers are compared for an application in a 48-V mild hybrid electric car. The optimization of the deep V-shaped ferrite PMSM automatically resulted in a spoke-type PM layout for maximum torque production. Yet, an optimized SynRM with conforming flux barriers was achieved that could produce a higher torque than ferrite PMSM. One machine technology is selected and six variants of it, with two rotor PM layouts each with three alternative pole-slot combinations, are subsequently subjected to a large-scale FE model-based drive-cycle design optimization. Various pole-slot combinations are methodically compared in terms of drive-cycle losses, active material cost, torque ripple, and PM demagnetization level. More than 20 000 designs were analyzed over ten energy-centric torque-speed points to identify an optimal design solution. The results of multiphysics analysis incorporating electromagnetics, computational fluid dynamics, and structural analyses are provided, including a study on three different water jacket concepts. A final design is prototyped and primary experimental results are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rare earth permanent magnet (PM) is widely used for traction motors of hybrid and electric vehicles. These motors have more torque density compared to any other type of motors. However, these PMs have the problems of limited reserves, unstable supply, and high cost. For solving these problems, concentrated flux synchronous motor (CFSM) and multi‐layer interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM), using ferrite PMs, are compared in this study. The CFSM and multi‐layer IPMSM are introduced and compared with regard to shape, size, electric parameter, and motor characteristics. In addition, two types of motors are fabricated and tested in order to verify their performance and feasibility. Finally, comparing the merits and demerits, the comparative motor types are estimated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presentation of hybrid propulsion systems on vehicles that manage to obtain a much lower pollution norm than in the case of vehicles with conventional propulsion system. Depending on each propulsion system, there are advantages and disadvantages in their use as well as in the construction variant. Based on the calculation formulas, the friction forces, accelerations and amount of recovered energy can be dimensioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited reserves of oil and the increasing environmental effect of its usage as a motor fuel represent global issue related to the constantly increasing number of motor vehicles. Therefore, the reduction of the fossil fuel consumed and the emission produced in internal combustion engines is the primary goal of the development of motor vehicle propulsion systems. In that sense, the present and the future of motor vehicles relies on hybrid drive systems, electric drive systems and drive systems which use hydrogen as a fuel (either by its combustion or by production of electric energy with the help of fuel cells). In this paper, the authors have presented the aforementioned motor vehicle propulsion systems by explaining their function and design, their basic elements and their functions. Authors have also analysed advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned propulsion systems in comparison to conventional internal combustion engine based systems, both technically and environmentally speaking, but also in relation to available infrastructure and energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fuel consumption reduction increases the share of hybrid systems in the vehicle market. SUVs (sport utility vehicle) which is typically a kind of station wagon with off-road vehicle features are equipped with such systems increasingly more often. Using the representatives of this vehicle group (Toyota, Lexus), energy flow analysis was performed in the urban and extra-urban driving conditions in a typical agglomeration. The amount of energy used and recovered was estimated, taking regenerative braking into account. Analyzes were performed to determine the driving conditions in electric mode. The electric mode drive share of such vehicles in urban and extra-urban conditions was determined. There was a large share of electric mode during braking and an increased share when traveling at a constant speed. It has been shown that this driving mode share is significant at low and medium speeds, and decreases at a speed above 50 km/h (regardless of the driving conditions). The share of electric mode driving in urban conditions was estimated: it is at least 40 % of the covered distance and is significantly reduced in extra-urban driving conditions (share of up to 20 %). This article specifies the parameters of the electrical system cooperation in real driving conditions. Analyzes of these works are important to recognize the future possibilities of improving the control of the hybrid drive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encouraged by regulations that seek to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases, the automotive industry has started an incipient transition to electromobility; so far, this transition has been limited to some of the Western developed countries, as well as Japan, South Korea and China. This transition generates important changes in the technological capabilities and natural resources needed for the development and production of vehicles, and opens a scenario of potential repositioning for firms and countries. In this context, the production of electric vehicles and their regulations are lagging behind in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina - the leading automotive producers in Latin America. However, they have some advantages that could be exploited to reposition themselves in automotive value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Todays cruise control systems try to keep a constant speed given by the driver without regarding the energy consumption. There is, however, possibilities to save energy by choosing the optimal velocity is neglected. Solving the underlying control problem for long distances with an algorithm that runs on a vehicle control unit is not straightforward, especially when it comes to hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). In order to overcome the computational burden, this paper presents a two-level model predictive control approach. It uses a sequential quadratic program (SQP) that comprises the total travel distance computing a target set for a lower layer that uses discrete state-space dynamic programming and Pontryagin's maximum principle to compute the optimal control for a short horizon. The computational efficiency is shown by a case study for an HEV passenger car with parallel powertrain, which reveals a cost advantage of up to 39% compared to a benchmark solution that exactly follows the velocity of the SQP while both approaches yield the same travel time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Development of a modular model-based architecture for fuel cell vehicle optimization. • Co-optimization accounts for the interactions between design and control strategy. • Constrained optimization analyses explore an extended range of FCHV configurations. • Outcomes yield useful guidelines that support decision making in FCHV design process. • Specs independent control strategy valorized in multi-scenario optimization tasks. Abstract Developing successful fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHVs), to be destined to the widest deployment within the entire transport sector, is nowadays considered as a highly strategic target to fully meet well known environmental and regulatory constraints at international level. This happens thanks to the intrinsic overall superior features of fuel cell propulsion when compared to both electric and hybrid vehicles, such as high fuel-economy, reduced tank-to-wheel environmental impact and good ranges. Successful achievement of the above-introduced challenging goal motivates the research activity presented and discussed in this paper, namely the development of an advanced mathematical tool featuring co-optimization capabilities. The reason for such a requirement lies in the well-known strong interactions and mutual influence between selected design criteria and adopted control strategies. Therefore, a comprehensive model of a generic FCHV architecture and a specification independent control strategy, thus adaptable to different fuel cell system and battery sizes, were preliminary developed. Then, they were integrated and embedded within a modular constrained optimization algorithm, which was conceived in such a way as to simultaneously find the optimal FCHV powertrain design, as well as real-time applicable control strategies. Suitable design and energy management criteria were investigated on a selected driving cycle, in such a way to explore several powertrain configurations (i.e. more hybrid, as well as more plugin and range-extender like FCHV). This allowed verifying the suitability of the proposed procedure to yield solutions ensuring low hydrogen consumption (i.e. fuel economy as high as 135 km/kg) and full alignment with targeted energy management policies. Discussion of results, together with the physical meaning of main design and control variables provided as outcomes, underline the effectiveness of the proposed tool in providing a solid support in the preliminary design of cost-effective fuel cell powertrains destined to a variety of applications and driving habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, the real driving particle number (PN) emissions from two China-6 compliant hybrid electrical vehicles (HEVs) were measured using a certification-level portable emission measurement system (PEMS) and strict adherence to the regulatory procedures for real driving emission (RDE) testing. The results show that the trip-averaged PN emission factors for the port fuel injection (PFI) HEV and the gasoline direct injection (GDI) HEV were 1.15E+12 and 1.71E+12#/km respectively, much higher than the engine-only counterparts and failing the existing RDE limits. Enriched air-fuel mixtures and probably lowered catalyst conversion efficiencies as a result of more frequent engine stop-and-goes of the HEVs are found to be the underlying reasons for the extra PN emissions. The test results also suggest the necessity to amend the power management strategy currently widely used in HEVs to deal with the PN issue. Highlights • Real-word PN emissions of two China-6 HEVs were tested following RDE procedures. • The RDE PN for the PFI and GDI-HEVs were 1.15E+12 and 1.71E+12#/km respectively. • Fuel-rich and low TWC efficiency since frequent engine-starts caused HEVs' more PN. • The power management strategy of HEVs may need amending to cope with high PN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poland aims at stimulating the market to reach a target of 50,000 plug-in and battery electric vehicles by 2020. However, as in other Eastern European countries, the market penetration stays very low. In Poland, there were only 475 battery electric vehicles and 514 plug-in electric vehicles registered in 2017. To identify effective support measures, this paper examines the preferences of Polish consumers for three types of electric vehicles: battery, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. We use a discrete choice experiment to estimate the willingness to pay of a representative sample of consumers intending to buy a car in Poland. We find that electric vehicles are significantly less preferred than conventional cars, even under a public programme that would enable slow-mode charging in places where respondents usually park. We quantify the marginal willingness to pay for increasing the driving range, reductions in charging time, the availability of fast-mode charging stations, and the provision of policy incentives. The novelty of the paper lies in presenting a scenario with the slow-mode and availability of several levels of fast-mode charging stations and examination of the extent to which the heterogeneity of consumer preferences is driven by place of residence (urban, suburban, rural), intention to buy a new versus a used car, and the annual mileage. This is also the first discrete choice experiment on electric vehicles conducted in Eastern Europe. To stimulate the electric vehicle market, we recommend a pricing policy that affects the operating costs and other incentives along with an effective up-front price incentive scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper comprehensively reviews power management strategies (PMS) and component sizing (CS) methods for hybrid vehicles with more than one energy storage system (ESS). The PMS aims to coordinate the power flow among different ESSs while meeting the drive commands and other constraints; whereas, CS is used to optimize the combination of the components to compose a cost-effective powertrain. However, these two aspects are usually coupled such that it is not reasonable to discuss them separately from a system-level design perspective. Therefore, this review briefly discusses the popular PMS, followed by a detailed CS review in different aspects, including the classic and optimization-based with their own subtypes. In addition, several case studies belonging to different optimization structures are also reviewed in detail to demonstrate the features and the main conclusions of each method. As the comparison results show that with the proper CS methods, the hybrid powertrain witness a large fuel saving compared to their conventional counterparts. Furthermore, factors or issues that affect the performance of the PMS and CS methods are discussed. Meanwhile, the future research trends in PMS and CS are elaborated. This study intends to help researchers to have an overview of the state-of-the-art in PMS and CS methods and more importantly, to provide directions for optimal powertrain and power management controller designs for cost-effective and environmental-friendly vehicles. Highlights • A brief study on power management strategies used in hybrid powertrains is conducted. • Component-sizing methods are emphasized and elaborated in several aspects. • The open topics in component-sizing are identified and the future trends are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid technology in marine vehicles can significantly reduce fuel consumption and local CO 2 emissions. It has been applied successfully to several ship-types, mostly with conventional, rule-based, strategies. To further improve performance, intelligent control strategies are necessary. This work, inspired by automotive research in Energy Management Strategies, applies the Equivalent Consumption Minimisation Strategy (ECMS) to a ship powered by a hybrid propulsion plant with hybrid power supply that can be recharged with renewable shore power. This hybrid configuration has the additional challenge to determine the optimal power-split between three or more different power sources, in real-time, and to optimally deplete the battery packs over the mission profile. To this end, a Mixed-Integer Non-Linear optimisation Problem is formulated and solved by combining Branch & Bound and Convex optimisation. Dynamic Programming (DP) is used to benchmark the real-time strategies, which are also compared to the current rule-based (RB) controller. Simulation results of a case study tugboat with validated models show that, with unknown load demand, 6% additional fuel savings can be achieved with ECMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orientation these days is on using high-efficiency devices such as hybrid vehicles. The current study uses a thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle (TREC) for energy harvesting from vehicle exhaust. Also, the TREC is utilized in reverse mode as a thermally regenerative electrochemical refrigerator (TRER) for cooling the battery in hybrid vehicles when the engine is turned off. To study the performance of the proposed system, an analytical model is developed and validated. The effect of different parameters on the TREC's performance, such as fuel mass flow rate, water temperature, mass flow rate, ambient temperature, and the Nusselt number, is investigated. Using the TREC for harvesting the wasted energy from the engine achieved an efficiency of 4.63%. The TRER has a variation in the peak COP from 7.84 to 1.89 based on the cold and hot reservoir temperatures. Under optimum operating conditions, using the TRER can reduce the battery's temperature from 293 K to 287.2 K after 1000 s of operation. Using the TREC and TRER devices provides a valuable solution to improve overall efficiency and protect hybrid vehicles' batteries. • Battery thermal management in hybrid vehicles is tested using TREC reverse mode. • The wasted heat from the hybrid vehicle's engine is harvested by TREC. • An analytical model for the TREC in the normal and reverse modes is developed. • The TREC efficiency and harvested energy under different conditions are evaluated. • The battery temperature for different operation periods is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, two different integrated systems for vehicular applications are presented and thermodynamically analyzed. The first system consists of liquefied ammonia tank, dissociation and separation unit (DSC) for decomposition of ammonia and an internal combustion engine (ICE) to power the vehicle. The second system is a hybrid system consisting of liquefied ammonia tank, DSC unit, a small ICE and a fuel cell system. In the second system, the main power unit is fuel cell and a supplementary internal combustion engines is also utilized. The exhaust gasses emitted from the ICE are used to provide the required heat for the thermal decomposition process of ammonia. The ICE is fueled with a mix of ammonia and hydrogen generated from the DSC unit that is installed in the two systems. Hydrogen generated from DSC unit will be utilized to operate fuel cell installed in system 2. The proposed systems are analyzed and assessed both energetically and exergetically. A comprehensive parametric study is carried out for comparative assessments to determine the influence of altering design and operating parameters such as the amount of ammonia fuel supplied to the two systems on the performance of the two systems. The overall energy and exergy efficiencies for system 1 and system 2 are found to be 61.89%, 63.34%, 34.73% and 38.44% respectively. The maximum exergy destruction rate in the two systems occurred in the ICE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an improved hybrid powertrain is proposed for extending the lifetime of original drive shaft of the Metrobuses that are being actively used in İstanbul traffic. A new power management method for the proposed powertrain is developed and the results of the method are analyzed along the study. The aim of the study is decreasing the operating load of the original axle and extend its lifetime by mounting two additional electric machines to one of the non-driven axles. The power control method which calculates the correct timing of the machines when to be used as a motor/generator or when to activate and deactivate them, should be tested in simulation environment first. In order to get realistic results from simulations, the models must be reliable. In order to develop the single-track dynamic model of the vehicle, experimental data is collected under real driving condition and is integrated into the model. Besides this, the collected road slope and metrobus acceleration data provides an infrastructure for performance simulations. On the other hand, the throttle-torque map is very critical to understand the driver's torque request. In this study, derivation of the torque map from experimental data is also explained. Finally, a rule based power management algorithm for lifetime extension is developed along the paper and its results are analyzed at the end of the work. According to the simulation results, the lifetime of the driving shaft of the original metrobus is extended by 75.86% in proposed hybrid powertrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment study of a novel approach is presented that combines discrete state-space Dynamic Programming and Pontryagin's Maximum Principle for online optimal control of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). In addition to electric energy storage, engine state and gear, kinetic energy, and travel time are considered states in this paper. After presenting the corresponding model using a parallel HEV as an example, a benchmark method with Dynamic Programming is introduced which is used to show the solution quality of the novel approach. It is illustrated that the proposed method yields a close-to-optimal solution by solving the optimal control problem over one hundred thousand times faster than the benchmark method. Finally, a potential online usage is assessed by comparing solution quality and calculation time with regard to the quantization of the state space. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) are a promising alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector and ultimately, to contribute to a more sustainable society. Within the current commitments of the Brazilian Government to international agreements, in terms of emissions reductions by 2030, some new policies have been implemented, in order to incentivize the diffusion of AFV in the country. Yet, how will these policies contribute to the goal of increasing its fleet in the long-term, how long will it take and what are the differences (if any) among the policies, in terms of their effectiveness, are questions that remain unanswered. In this sense, the main aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of public policies in the long-term diffusion dynamics of AFV in Brazil. In order to do so, a system dynamics model is developed, based on the Generalized Bass Diffusion model, the Cobb-Douglas function and the learning curve theory. The model is used to test four different policies and some uncertainties related to: (i) the exemption of the import duty; (ii) the reduction of the motor vehicle property tax; (iii) the exemption of the tax on manufacturing goods; and (iv) a banning regulation for internal combustion engine vehicles in the long-term. The results highlight the importance of the current incentive policies but at the same time call for reinforcing efforts in order to increase the AFV fleet to significant values by 2030. Conversely, the banning regulation obtains a higher diffusion rate, but only achieves significant values by 2060. The paper concludes by showing the main contributions and policy implications of the effectiveness of the four policies studied as well as some suggestions for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Important global efforts are underway toward lowering the cost of electric machines for electric and hybrid vehicles by reducing or eliminating the use of rare earth materials which have been experiencing significant price increases and volatility. This study will present several designs that reduce or eliminate rare‐earth materials. All these designs are targeting the same set of specifications of 55 kW peak at 2800 rpm and 30 kW continuous over a speed range going from 2800–14,000 rpm. This provides a fair basis of comparison of various machine topologies. The study will provide a quantitative comparison of the performance of various machine topologies as well as highlight the key tradeoffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a real-time distributed economic model predictive control approach for complete vehicle energy management (CVEM) is presented using a receding control horizon in combination with a dual decomposition. The dual decomposition allows the CVEM optimization problem to be solved by solving several smaller optimization problems. The receding horizon control problem is formulated with variable sample intervals, allowing for large prediction horizons with only a limited number of decision variables and constraints in the optimization problem. Furthermore, a novel on/off control concept for the control of the refrigerated semi-trailer, the air supply system and the climate control system is introduced. Simulation results on a low-fidelity vehicle model show that close to optimal fuel reduction performance can be achieved. The fuel reduction for the on/off controlled subsystems strongly depends on the number of switches allowed. By allowing up to 15-times more switches, a fuel reduction of 1.3% can be achieved. The approach is also validated on a high-fidelity vehicle model, for which the road slope is predicted by an e-horizon sensor, leading to a prediction of the propulsion power and engine speed. The prediction algorithm is demonstrated with measured ADASIS information on a public road around Eindhoven, which shows that accurate prediction of the propulsion power and engine speed is feasible when the vehicle follows the most probable path. A fuel reduction of up to 0.63% is achieved for the high-fidelity vehicle model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-board power generation for vehicular applications requires a compact, simplified and well-integrated fuel processor-fuel cell system. In the present paper, the integration of an ethanol reformer unit with a 50 kWe high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is studied for potential automotive applications. A high-efficiency dual reformer system is used for on-board production of hydrogen from ethanol. Heat transfer equipment for recovery of water and effective utilization of waste heat has been incorporated into the integrated system. Detailed analysis using ASPEN simulations shows that gross system efficiencies of up to 39% can be achieved. Estimates of size, weight of the integrated system have been made to assess its suitability for application as auxiliary power units in automotive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the Hybrid Vehicle Routing Problem (HVRP) is introduced and formalized. This problem is an extension of the classical VRP in which vehicles can work both electrically and with traditional fuel. The vehicle may change propulsion mode at any point of time. The unitary travel cost is much lower for distances covered in the electric mode. An electric battery has a limited capacity and may be recharged at a recharging station (RS). A limited number of RS are available. Once a battery has been completely discharged, the vehicle automatically shifts to traditional fuel propulsion mode. Furthermore, a maximum route duration is imposed according to contracts regulations established with the driver. In this paper, a Mixed Integer Linear Programming formulation is presented and a Large Neighborhood Search based Matheuristic is proposed. The algorithm starts from a feasible solution and consists into destroying, at each iteration, a small number of routes, letting unvaried the other ones, and reconstructing a new feasible solution running the model on only the subset of customers involved in the destroyed routes. This procedure allows to completely explore a large neighborhood within very short computational time. Computational tests that show the performance of the matheuristic are presented. The method has also been tested on a simplified version of the HVRP already presented in the literature, the Green Vehicle Routing Problem (GVRP), and competitive results have been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of electric motors and internal combustion engines in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) can considerably improve the fuel efficiency compared to conventional vehicles. In order to use its full potential, a predictive intelligent control system using information about impending driving situations has to be developed, to determine the optimal gear shifting strategy and the torque split between the combustion engine and the electric motor. To further increase fuel efficiency, the vehicle velocity can be used as an additional degree of freedom and the development of a predictive algorithm calculating good choices for all degrees of freedom over time is necessary. In this paper, an optimization-based algorithm for combined energy management and economic driving over a limited horizon is proposed. The results are compared with results from an offline calculation, which determine the overall fuel savings potential through the use of a discrete dynamic programming algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid vehicle and powertrain development has become essential to for the design and implementation of vehicles that meet and exceed the fuel efficiency, cost, and performance targets expected by today’s consumer while keeping pace with reduced development cycle and more frequent product releases. Recently, advances in large-scale additive manufacturing have provided the means to bridge hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimentation and preproduction mule chassis evaluation. This paper details the accelerated development of a printed range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, by paralleling hardware-in-the-loop development of the powertrain with rapid chassis prototyping using big area additive manufacturing (BAAM). BAAM’s ability to accelerate the mule vehicle development from computer-aided design to vehicle build is explored. The use of a hardware-in-the-loop laboratory is described as it is applied to the design of a range-extended electric powertrain to be installed in a printed prototype vehicle. The integration of the powertrain and the opportunities and challenges it presents are described in this work. A comparison of offline simulation, HIL and chassis rolls results is presented to validate the development process. Chassis dynamometer results for battery electric and range extender operation are analyzed to show the benefits of the architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]