Assessment of US electric vehicle programs with ac powertrains
- Booz, Allen and Hamilton, Inc., Bethesda, MD (USA). Transportation Consulting Div.
AC powertrain technology is a promising approach to improving the performance of electric vehicles. Four major programs are now under way in the United States to develop ac powertrains: the Ford/General Electric single-shaft electric propulsion system (ETX-II), the Eaton dual-shaft electric propulsion system (DSEP), the Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) integrated ac motor drive and recharge system, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) variable reluctance motor (VRM) drive. The JPL program is sponsored by EPRI; the other three programs are funded by the US Department of Energy. This preliminary assessment of the four powertrain programs focuses on potential performance, costs, safety, and commercial feasibility. Interviews with program personnel were supplemented by computer simulations of electric vehicle performance using the four systems. Each of the four powertrains appears superior to standard dc powertrain technology in terms of performance and weight. The powertrain technologies studied in this assessment are at varying degrees of technological maturity. One or more of the systems may be ready for incorporation into an advanced electric vehicle during the early 1990s. Each individual report will have a separate abstract. 5 refs., 37 figs., 29 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Booz, Allen and Hamilton, Inc., Bethesda, MD (USA). Transportation Consulting Div.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EPRI
- OSTI ID:
- 7250606
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-CU-6685
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AC SYSTEMS
COMMERCIALIZATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPILED DATA
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DATA
DC SYSTEMS
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
INFORMATION
MANUFACTURING
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER SYSTEMS
PROGRESS REPORT
SURVEYS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TESTING
USES
VEHICLES