Evaluation of high-energy-efficiency powertrain approaches: the 1996 futurecar challenge

Conference · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:459316

Sluder, S; Duoba, M; Larsen, R

Twelve colleges and universities were selected to design, build, and develop a mid-size vehicle that could achieve high energy economy while maintaining the performance characteristics of today`s mid-size vehicle. Many of the teams were able to increase the fuel economy of their vehicles, but most of these increases came at the expense of decreased performance or worsened emissions. This paper evaluates and summarizes the high-energy-efficiency powertrain technology approaches that were utilized in the 1996 FutureCar Challenge, which was the first evaluation of these vehicles in a two-year program. Of the 11 vehicles evaluated in the competition, nine utilized hybrid electric vehicle approaches. This paper discusses the design trade- offs made by the teams to achieve high efficiency while trying to maintain stock performance.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 459316
• Report Number(s): ANL/ES/CP-91792; CONF-970210-4; ON: DE97003221
• Resource Relation: Conference: International congress and exposition of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE): dedicated to the advancement of the global mobility industry, Detroit, MI (United States), 24-27 Feb 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
HYBRID ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
PERFORMANCE
FUEL CONSUMPTION
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EXHAUST GASES
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
DESIGN
ACCELERATION
DYNAMOMETERS
CARBON MONOXIDE
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ENGINES
EMISSION