A Mid-Sized Sedan Designed for High Fuel Economy and Low Emissions: The ...

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A Mid-Sized Sedan Designed for High Fuel Economy and Low Emissions: The UC Davis FutureCar













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A Mid-Sized Sedan Designed for High Fuel Economy and Low
Emissions: The UC Davis FutureCar
Mark Alexander, Brian Johnston, Chris Carlson, Brian Moran, Walter Goorts,
Richard Carlson, Peter Kucera, Matt McClory, Karen Yee, Nathaniel Meyr
and faculty advisors Dr. Andrew Frank and Dr. Andrew Burke
University of California, Davis
College of Engineering
ABSTRACT
The UC Davis FutureCar Team has redesigned a
1994 Mercury Sable Aluminum Intensive Vehicle (AIV)as a parallel hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) with the goalsof tripling the fuel economy, achieving California SuperUltra Low Emissions Vehicle level (SULEV), andqualifying for partial zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) creditsin California. Using a highly efficient powertrain, reducedvehicle weight and advanced control systems,
Coulomb
will approach these goals. The UC Davis chargedepletion driving strategy maximizes energy economyand provides substantial all-electric operatingcapabilities.
Coulombs powertrain couples a Subaru
658 cc gasoline engine and a Unique Mobility 75 kWbrushless permanent magnet motor with a modifiedNissan continuously variable transmission. This in-lineparallel drive train is simple, compact, and efficient. Themotor is powered by a high power 18.6 kWh Ovonicnickel metal hydride battery pack. Simulation resultspredict this vehicle will achieve 4.4L/100 km on theFederal Urban Driving Schedule and 4.0L/100 km on theFederal Highway Driving Schedule.
INTRODUCTION
In 1998, the University of California, Davis
(UC Davis) FutureCar Team participated in theFutureCar Challenge for a third consecutive year. TheU.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Council forAutomotive Research sponsored the 1998 Challenge.The competition motivates engineering students toredesign a mid-size sedan to achieve three times itscurrent fuel economy without sacrificing performance,utility, or cost. Supplementing these goals, UC Davisfocused on qualifying for 80% partial ZEV credit underthe California Low Emissions Vehicle II (LEVII)amendments. In the two previous years, UC Davisentered
Joule, a converted 1996 Ford Taurus. For 1998,
UC Davis continues development towards high fueleconomy and low emissions with the introduction of
Coulomb, a 1994 Mercury Sable Aluminum IntensiveVehicle (AIV).
Joule achieved double the stock vehicle fuel
economy, 49.9 mpg combined city/highway. Furtherefficiency increases with
Joule would be limited without
extensive weight reduction, powertrain redesign, andcontrols optimization.
Coulomb represents these
changes. The aluminum frame reduces vehicle mass by250 kg. A continuously variable transmission (CVT)facilitates optimization of the control strategy and apowertrain uses custom components that have beenjointly designed with manufacturers to increaseefficiency, reliability, and driveability.
DESIGN GOALS
Based on the ambitious development timetable for
Joule, the UC Davis