SAE International seeks input on CO2 as a referigerant
In response to a recent press statement from Germany that CO2 is the "right" automotive air-conditioning refrigerant, SAE International President Frank O. Klegon invites all automobile manufacturers to join in an industry collaborative effort to fully evaluate CO2 in such use. He said SAE International has unquestioned expertise in the research, analysis, and application of a variety of automotive refrigerants. In the past decade, more than 10 major SAE Cooperative Research Program (CRP) projects have provided forums for subject matter experts from around the industry to meet, discuss, and agree on advantages and disadvantages of various alternative refrigerants, as well as the management of accompanying risks. "The implementation of CO2 as an automotive refrigerant is not without technical challenges," said Klegon. The U.S. EPA has published its concerns regarding the use of CO2 as a mobile air conditioning refrigerant for passenger cars. The full EPA report can be accessed here. OEMs wishing to join a new SAE CRP to further investigate CO2 should contact Gary Pollak at 1-724-772-7196 or gary@sae.org.
SAE introduces certification for engineers involved in vehicle electrification
SAE International announced Nov. 14 that it will implement a personnel certification program that enables engineers, product development technicians, and associated personnel to earn a certificate of competency or certification in the area of vehicle electrification (VE). Through a process that engaged a group of auto industry subject-matter experts, a VE body of knowledge was developed and segmented into three distinct levels to meet the needs of specific personnel. Exam questions were generated to align with the body of knowledge to address each of the three levels. The VE Fundamentals and Safety Certificate of Competency is designed for individuals who require training and validation of knowledge in general electrified vehicle architectures, basic electricity and electronics, and critical safety precautions and procedures. Job roles include manufacturing personnel, procurement, sales, management, and engineering undergraduate students. This credential requires completing an online training course and passing an online exam. The VE Professional Certification level, due to launch in February 2013, is designed for individuals to validate mastery of knowledge in general VE safety and all major VE systems. Job roles include engineers, technicians, and other technical personnel assigned to electrified vehicle platforms but not involved with direct design of VE systems. Passing an online exam results in certification that remains in force for three years. The VE Engineer/Scientist Certification level will launch in March 2013 and is for individuals to validate mastery of knowledge in the science and design of all major VE systems. Job roles include engineers and R&D scientists engaged in focused research or product design of VE systems such as battery packs, motors, power electronics, and systems integration. Passing an online exam also results in certification that remains in force for three years.
SAE considers forming group to look at 1234yf in light of Daimler safety claim
SAE International is working with global automakers to investigate the formation of a new Cooperative Research Program (CRP) regarding 1234yf refrigerant. The formation of the group is in response to a Daimler AG press release on Sept. 25 that questioned the safe use of the refrigerant. The CRP will technically evaluate the findings referred to in the release. SAE International has hosted an organizational meeting to discuss a preliminary scope of research and is actively soliciting OEMs to formally join the new CRP. OEMs wishing to join should contact Gary Pollak at 1-724-772-7196 or gary@sae.org.
Johnson Controls to acquire bankrupt battery maker A123 Systems
A123 Systems announced on Oct. 16 that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a plan to sell its automotive business assets to Johnson Controls in a transaction valued at $125 million. Those assets include all of its automotive technology, products, and customer contracts; its facilities in Livonia and Romulus, MI; its cathode powder manufacturing facilities in China; and A123's equity interest in Shanghai Advanced Traction Battery Systems Co. The asset purchase agreement also includes provisions enabling Johnson Controls to license back to A123 certain technology for its grid, commercial, and government businesses. In conjunction with the proposed asset purchase agreement, Johnson Controls will provide A123 with $72.5 million in to support the latter's operations until the sale is finalized.
;)
A123 Systems makes lithium-ion battery cells in a number of different formats, sizes, and capabilities.
Fuel-cell push crosses regional borders
Two recent announcements attest to continuing efforts by government and industry to make the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle viable. On Oct. 5, the U.S. Department of Energy said it would make available $1 million for efforts to "identify cost-effective and efficient materials and processes to produce hydrogen from renewable energy sources and natural gas." These projects will also analyze production and delivery technologies to identify key technical challenges and priorities and continue to evaluate technical progress and hydrogen cost status. Applications for the funding can be found on the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange website. On Oct. 9, Honda announced that it and three other Asia automakers (Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai) have signed a memorandum of understanding with public and private organizations from Nordic countries to support the introduction of fuel-cell vehicles (and supporting infrastructure) in that region (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland).
;)
Honda in September announced that it will launch an all-new fuel-cell vehicle in 2015. Its current fuel-cell offering is the FCX Clarity (shown).
GM puts taillights aglow with new LED technology
Working with supplier 3M, General Motors engineers have developed what they claim is an industry-first LED taillight technology that delivers a soft, uniform red glow in a complex and unique shape. It is being deployed first on the MY2013 Buick Enclave, then will be cascaded to other Buick models, the company says. The uniform glow is made possible by 3M's Uniform Lighting Lens technology, which uses a precision engineered, micro-patterned, thermoformable polycarbonate material that provides even illumination around complex shapes with fewer LEDs, reducing both complexity and energy use, according to GM.
;)
The 2013 Buick Enclave's new taillights use an industry-first Uniform Lighting Lens technology from 3M for a unique look and reduced energy use.
Gentherm to adapt passenger-car thermoelectric generator to heavy vehicles
Gentherm has received a $1.55 million contract modification from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to apply the technology in its thermoelectric generator (TEG) for passenger cars to a similar program for heavy vehicles. The TEG technology, which converts waste heat from gas exhaust into electric energy, has the potential to improve passenger-car fuel efficiency by as much as 5%, the company claims. The grant is an add-on to the $8 million award from the DOE in August 2011 for converting thermoelectric heat to power for passenger cars and extends the technology to heavy military vehicles. With this new project, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive, Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) becomes a key partner to Gentherm, joining passenger-car partners Ford and BMW. With completion expected by early 2015, the project will scale up the fully functional passenger-car TEG (working prototypes have been delivered to BMW and Ford) and integrate it with a 15-L diesel engine to provide fuel economy improvement and ignition-off auxiliary power for combat vehicles. This add-on leverages the existing program technology for large diesel engines, providing a new solution for military heavy vehicles, Class 8 trucks, marine, and industrial power generating equipment.
Other related articles include: http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/10647 and http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/7916.
;)
Gentherm's automotive thermoelectric generator (shown), which converts unused waste heat to electricity, is now being scaled up to suit heavy vehicles.
Batteries in a buggy
Why permanently weigh down an electric car with an outsized, excessively heavy battery when EV drivers can hitch up a small trailer full of batteries for the needed driving distance and then unhitch the unit when no longer needed? Indeed, says Stuttgart company ebuggy GmhH, which has developed a prototype battery trailer and is working to develop a network of pickup/dropoff stations to allow unlimited range for various EVs. The beauty of the vision, says ebuggy, is that EV makers can design their cars with smaller, less expensive battery packs and thus charge customers less. In a Sept. 19 press release announcing ebuggy, the company noted that the prototype trailer was constructed with the support of the Germany Ministry of Economics and Technology and several project partners including the Fraunhofer Institut IPA and Stuttgart University. Ebuggy video and animation can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/ebuggy01/videos.
;)
ebuggy envisions a network of stations for pickup and dropoff of the battery-filled trailers.
Ford cuts rare-earths use in new hybrid system
Ford's switch from nickel-metal hydride to lithium-ion batteries in its third-generation hybrid system will reduce its use of rare earth metals by up to 500,000 lb (225,000 kg) per year, the company says. Among the rare earths used in NiMH batteries are neodymium, cerium, lanthanum, and praseodymium—none of which are used in the new Li-ion batteries. Additionally, Ford has reduced its use of dysprosium by about 50% in magnets employed in the hybrid system's electric motors. Dysprosium is the most expensive rare earth used in Ford vehicles. This reduction is the result of a new diffusion process that is used in the magnet manufacturing process. The company says the Li-ion batteries are 30% less expensive, 25-30% smaller, and 50% lighter. The weight reduction results in better fuel efficiency for Ford's new 2013 C-MAX Hybrid (U.S. EPA certified at 47 mpg for both the city and highway cycles) and the Fusion Hybrid, which Ford projects will also achieve 47 mpg. A Ford spokesman told AEI that the company designed the batteries in house and assembles them at its Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti, MI—in keeping with the in-sourcing approach for the third-generation hybrid system.
;)
The magnets used in Ford's new hybrid electric motors contain roughly half the dysprosium used in previous motors.
Eaton, NREL team to reduce hybrid-electric-vehicle battery size
Eaton Corp. is developing a power control system for hybrid-electric vehicles (from passenger cars to commercial vehicles) with the goal of reducing by 50% the size of the battery needed. The company on Aug. 27 announced that the work is part of a $2.8 million project funded jointly by Eaton and the U.S. Department of Energy, the latter of which is contributing $2 million. The project is being led by Eaton's Innovation Center team in Southfield, MI, which will work with a team from the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—the former offering expertise in intelligent power management and the latter expertise in battery modeling and prognostics. Specifically, the project aims to significantly downsize the battery through a combination of duty-cycle learning and model-based supervisory optimal control design. Using advanced physics-based battery models developed in partnership with NREL, the hybrid vehicle supervisory controller dynamically balances fuel economy and the health of the downsized battery pack to maximize vehicle performance while minimizing the impact on battery life.
;)
Using advanced physics-based battery models developed in partnership with NREL, the hybrid vehicle supervisory controller dynamically balances fuel economy and the health of the downsized battery pack.
- Share:
