Powertrain - Tech Blog
Algae and cellulosic biofuel supported in U.S. federal tax act
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is expressing gratitude to the U.S. Congress for including extensions and modifications of the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Credit and the Special Allowance for Second Generation Biofuel Plant Property in final passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. The Act will incentivize investment in both cellulosic and algae biofuel production by renewing a $1.01 per gallon tax credit for producers and accelerated depreciation for newly constructed facilities during 2013, and modifying these credits to include algae. Said Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, in a Jan. 2 statement: “We thank Congress for extending the producer tax credit and bonus depreciation and enabling algae producers to qualify. Stability in such policies is crucial to maintaining private investment. We hope to work with Congress in the coming year to extend and maintain additional policies that support this innovation, such as a strong energy title in any upcoming Farm Bill, and the Renewable Fuel Standard.”
;)
Petri dishes of Solazyme's tailored algae strains.
U.S. Army tabs AVL and Achates Power for new-generation engine
The U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has awarded a $4.9 million contract to AVL Engineering and Achates Power Inc. to design and build a demonstrator engine as part of the military's Next-Generation Engine program intended for a wide range of combat and tactical vehicles. In its contract proposal, AVL said the engine would be based on Achates’ opposed-piston two-stroke technology. It will be multi-fuel-capable, per TARDEC's requirements. In developing its base engine technology, Achates has accumulated more than 3600 h of dynamometer testing, achieving 47.5% brake thermal efficiency, the company claims. The advantages demonstrated thus far are published in SAE International technical paper 2011-01-2216 and include leaner, faster, and earlier combustion and greater package efficiency, compared with current-generation diesels. AVL and Achates expect the engine's final design phase to be underway "over the next few years."
.jpg',920,720);)
Achates Power claims its current base engine technology achieves less than 0.1% fuel-specific oil consumption, with low heat rejection and packaging benefits compared with current-generation diesels.
IAV Automotive Engineering looks to hire engineers in 2013
IAV Automotive Engineering expects to continue experiencing strong growth in U.S. next year and will hire an additional 40 engineers to do so. The company recently announced that sales have increased by more than 50% every year since 2009, when it opened its new headquarters in Northville, MI. For 2013, it expects revenues to have quadrupled since 2010. Part of the global IAV Group, IAV Automotive Engineering is an engineering consultancy serving the automotive industry. It received an AEI Tech Award (click here to see article) earlier this year for its work in hybrid powertrain research.
;)
Schematic of a parallel hybrid architecture with two electrical axles.
Nissan charges up its new EV battery plant in Tennesee
Nissan recently began operations of its new advanced-battery plant in Tennessee that will supply the energy-storage devices for the Nissan Leafs to be produced at an adjoining vehicle-assembly plant. Regular North American production of the Leaf is to start at the automaker's Smyrna plant early in 2013. To date, the Leaf and its lithium-ion battery pack currently are made in Japan only. The first batteries produced in Smyrna for the 2013 Leaf have completed the required aging process and are ready to receive their first charge, the company said in a recent announcement. The plant is fully integrated, with raw battery cell materials coming in one end and finished battery packs going out the other (see accompanying image). Nissan has not yet released specifications for the 2013 Leaf and its battery pack. The Leaf will be assembled alongside the Nissan Altima and Maxima.
;)
The production process at Nissan's new U.S. battery plant begins with formation of electrode sheets.
Detailed FEV study shows the way to major vehicle mass savings
Significant vehicle mass reduction—up to 20%—is achievable if weight reduction is pursued as part of a "full-vehicle approach," according to a study by FEV Inc. released Dec. 13. The company used a 2010 Toyota Venza for its research because that model was used in an earlier, related study. The comprehensive phase-two study by FEV was conducted for the U.S. EPA. The previous study, by Lotus Engineering (go to www.sae.org/mags/aei/8512 to read more), was conducted for the International Council on Clean Transportation. That study did not address mass savings from the powertrain to the extent the new one does, nor did it use advanced CAE tools to judge the impact of mass-savings measures on safety, according to FEV. In both cases, the mass savings were to be achieved with no degradation in safety or other parameters. The new study shows that the body-in-white and closures offered the most mass reduction at 68.32 kg (150.62 lb), followed closely by suspension. Total mass savings of 18.3% (312 kg/688 lb) was achieved, and at a cost savings of $148 from manufacturing efficiencies.
;)
Advanced CAE tools were used as part of the comprehensive study that resulted in a report of 890 pages.
Wireless EV charging advances with Evatran testing program
The City of Raleigh is the first municipality nationwide to join a special program to test wireless electric vehicle charging technology. It joins six other participants to date in the second phase of Evatran's so-called Apollo Program launching early in 2013 to further demonstrate the company's technology, which it brands Plugless Power. Its second-generation "production-intent" model will be used in this phase, with three of the 20-30 total units to be installed in Raleigh municipal parking lots. Evatran will retrofit two Nissan Leafs and one Chevrolet Volt in the city's fleet for use with the charging system. Five prototype wireless charging units were used in the first phase of the Apollo Program, which involved six partners (among them Google and Hertz, which are also participating in the second phase). In a separate matter, the company said it will begin distributing its Plugless Power units in the spring; they will be the first wireless charging units available to individual Leaf and Volt owners.
;)
Two prototype wireless charging stations are located at Evatran's technology center in Morrisville, NC.
U.S. DOE reinforces its commitment to advanced batteries for EVs with new technology Hub
The U.S. Department of Energy on Nov. 30 announced it will establish a major advanced-battery research center on the campus of Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago. The Batteries and Energy Storage Hub, also called the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR). Establishment of the Hub is tied to the award of DOE funding of up to $120 million for a research team led by Argonne and consisting of additional national labs, universities, and private companies, the latter consisting of Dow Chemical Co., Applied Materials Inc., Johnson Controls Inc., and Clean Energy Trust. JCESR will integrate independent research being done by the participating entities into a coordinated effort. It is the fourth Hub established by the DOE since 2010 (the others address nuclear energy, building efficiency, and fuels derived from sunlight), and like the others it is modeled on the "strong scientific management characteristics of the Manhattan Project" and similarly renowned enterprises. Research will apply to multiple industries, not just automotive.
;)
Argonne scientist Ira Bloom examines a metallographic sample using an optical microscope to determine its microstructure in the laboratory's Battery Post-Test Facility. This information helps researchers learn what chemical and physical changes have occurred during the aging of battery materials.
Parker Aerospace, GE Aviation launch joint venture
Parker Aerospace and GE Aviation reached an agreement to form a joint venture, Advanced Atomization Technologies LLC, to enhance the development and manufacture of commercial aircraft engine fuel nozzles. This represents a critical addition to the comprehensive GE fuel management team. The 50:50 joint venture—created specifically to produce fuel nozzles for current and future GE Aviation commercial engine platforms (including aerospace and aero-derivative engines)—will be located in the Parker Gas Turbine Fuel Systems Division facility in Clyde, NY. The joint venture will employ approximately 300 skilled assemblers, technicians, engineers, and other professionals in the production of advanced fuel nozzles and related products for GE Aviation.
Dana launches Chinese-specific off-highway drivetrain brand
Dana Holding Corp. has developed and launched the Spicer Rui Ma brand for a new class of transmissions and axles made in China to complement the supplier’s flagship Spicer brand. Announced at Bauma China 2012 in Shanghai, the initial Spicer Rui Ma products offered to Chinese OEMs include the Spicer TZL16 RM powershift transmission for ZL50 front-end loaders, the T08 RM transmission for 6- to 10-t (6.6- to 11-ton) forklift trucks, and the T39 RM tridem drive axle for five- and six-axle chassis concrete pump trucks and other heavy-duty vocational applications. The company plans to introduce additional Spicer Rui Ma transmissions and axles for the construction, mining, and material-handling industries in the coming months. Developed and produced at Dana’s manufacturing facility in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, Spicer Rui Ma transmissions and axles are supported by the supplier’s growing network of engineering, sales support, and aftermarket parts and service teams in China. Dana currently has nine facilities in China and plans to open a 12,000-m2 (129,000-ft2) technical center in Wuxi in early 2013 to provide advanced product and applications engineering.
Saft receives additional funding from BAE Systems for advanced Li-ion ESS
BAE Systems has awarded Saft $1.3 million in new funding to continue development of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) energy storage system (ESS) for the U.S. Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program. The new funding for the GCV project is an addition to the initial 2010 contract. Saft, which is designing and building ultrahigh-power cells for the vehicle’s hybrid-electric drive system, has already completed the demo battery system including hardware and software. Comprised of ultrahigh-power, high-voltage VL 5U cells, the Li-ion ESS supports the GCV’s electric drive system when the vehicle is not running on gasoline, such as during silent watch missions. Saft joins Northrop Grumman, MTU, QinetiQ, and L-3 Communications on the BAE Systems’ GCV team, one of two industry teams working on the technology development phase of the program. The 24-month technology development phase is aimed at completing preliminary design reviews to build prototype systems prior to the engineering and manufacturing phase. Saft believes it will likely be the battery supplier when production begins in 2019, if the BAE Systems/Northrop Grumman team is selected as the Army’s design and manufacturing partner.
;)
BAE Systems' solution for the U.S. Army’s GCV program—a nine-man Infantry Carrier (plus three crew members) that can protect against threats, move in urban and off-road terrain, and accommodate emerging technologies such as lightweight armor composites and electronics—includes a hybrid-electric drive system.
- Share:
