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In an effort to develop a five passenger sedan capable of achieving the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) objectives, a 1996 Ford Taurus sedan was converted into a parallel drive, hybrid electric vehicle. This vehicle was designed to retain, to the greatest degree possible, the basic driving characteristics of the conventionally powered vehicle. To achieve the high PNGV fuel economy goals, every effort was made to reduce weight and to use components that are more efficient than those of the original vehicle. The OEM automatic transmission has been replaced with a five-speed, manual transmission which was adapted from an earlier model year production Taurus SHO vehicle. In order to provide the driveability of an automatic transmission, an electro-hydraulic control unit was designed and built. This unit automatically engages the clutch and shifts gears as required during vehicle operation.

Kettering University's entry for the 2006 Clean Snowmobile challenge utilizes a Polaris FST Switchback. This snowmobile having a two cylinder, four-stroke engine has been modified to run on ethanol (E-85). The student team has designed and built a new exhaust system which features customized catalytic converters to minimize engine out emissions. A number of improvements have been made to the track to reduce friction and diminish noise.

Clean snowmobile technology has been developed using methods which can be applied in the real world with a minimal increase in cost. Specifically, a commercially available snowmobile using a two cylinder, four-stroke engine has been modified to run on high-blend ethanol (E-85) fuel. Additionally, a new exhaust system which features customized catalytic converters and mufflers to minimize engine noise and exhaust emissions has developed. Finally, a number of additional improvements have been made to the track to reduce friction and diminish noise. The results of these efforts include emissions reductions of 94% when compared with snowmobiles operating at the 2012 U.S. Federal requirements.

Clean snowmobile technology has been developed and applied to an existing commercially available snowmobile. The goals of this effort included reducing exhaust emissions to levels which are below the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2012 standard. Additionally, noise levels were to be reduced to below the noise mandates of 78 dB(A). Further, this snowmobile can operate using any blend of gasoline and ethanol from E20 to E30. All of these goals were achieved while keeping the cost affordable. Snowmobiling is, after all, a recreational sport; thus the snowmobile must remain fun to drive and cost effective to produce. The details of this design effort including performance data are discussed in this paper. Specifically, the effort to modify a commercially available snowmobile using a three cylinder, four-stroke engine is described. This snowmobile was modified to run on a range of ethanol blended fuels using a closed-loop engine control system.

The Snowmobile Team at Kettering University designed its entry into the 2001 Clean Snowmobile Competition to be cleaner and quieter than current snowmobiles, while maintaining the same performance levels expected by consumers. A four-stroke Daihatsu 659cc turbocharged engine was installed into a Yamaha V-max 600 snowmobile. Several modifications to both the engine and to the sled were done to maximize the performance of the two systems when they are merged together. The overall performance of the sled is comparable to the stock snowmobile. Acceleration is slightly less than the OEM snowmobile, and mass was added to the front of the sled which decreased the handling ability. This is offset, however, by the drastic reduction of harmful exhaust emissions and also by the reduction in the sound level of the sled. This snowmobile was designed with maintenance and durability in mind.

Kettering University's Clean Snowmobile Challenge student design team has developed a new robust and innovative snowmobile for the 2004 competition. Switching from the previous years four-stroke automotive engine, Kettering University has utilized a modified snowmobile in-line four cylinder, four-stroke, fuel- injected engine. This engine has been installed into a 2003 Yamaha RX-1 snowmobile chassis. Exhaust emissions have been minimized through the use of a customized catalytic converter and an electronically controlled closed-loop fuel injection system. A newly designed and tuned exhaust as well as several chassis treatments have aided in minimizing noise emissions.

Lead-acid batteries are currently the least expensive option for use in hybrid electric vehicles. The battery selection process for use in hybrid electric vehicles is complicated due to the limited use of these vehicles. Considerable data exists for the use of lead-acid batteries for other purposes. Unfortunately, much of this data is not directly applicable when these batteries are to be used in hybrid electric vehicles. Currently, there exists a wide variation in the type and format of battery data that is provided by the manufacturers. A comprehensive survey of deep cycle lead-acid batteries was conducted. Batteries were compared using manufacturers published data. To provide a consistent basis for comparison, various performance parameters-energy capacity, capacity, weight, and volume- were normalized with respect to both weight and volume. Additionally, all data was normalized to reflect three hour discharge rates. The battery selection process is then described in detail.

The design specifications and the results of the performance and emissions testing are reported for a series Hybrid Electric Vehicle(HEV) which was developed by a team of midshipmen and faculty at the United States Naval Academy. A 5-door Ford Escort Wagon with a manual transmission was converted to a series drive hybrid electric vehicle. The propulsion system is based on a DC motor which is coupled to the existing transmission. Lead-acid batteries are used to store the electrical energy. The auxiliary power unit(APU) consists of a small gasoline engine connected to a generator. All components are based upon existing commercial technology.

A Hybrid Electric Vehicle(HEV) has been developed for use in the intercollegiate 1993 and 1994 Hybrid Electric Vehicle Challenges. A conventionally powered vehicle was converted to a series drive hybrid electric vehicle, named AMPhibian II. The AMPhibian is designed to be an economically feasible HEV, for use in near term applications. To accomplish this, all components are based upon existing technology. Regenerative braking is used to improve the range and economy of the hybrid electric vehicle. The design and performance of the vehicle, including the relative benefits of regenerative braking are reported.

Kettering University's Clean Snowmobile Challenge student design team has developed a new robust and innovative snowmobile for the 2005 competition. This snowmobile dramatically reduces exhaust and noise emissions and improves fuel economy compared with a conventional snowmobile. Kettering University has utilized a modified snowmobile in-line four cylinder, four-stroke, engine. The team added an electronically-controlled fuel-injection system with oxygen sensor feedback to this engine. This engine has been installed into a 2003 Yamaha RX-1 snowmobile chassis. Exhaust emissions have been further minimized through the use of a customized catalytic converter and an electronically controlled closed-loop fuel injection system. A newly designed and tuned exhaust as well as several chassis treatments have aided in minimizing noise emissions.

Clean snowmobile technology has been developed and applied to a commercially available two cylinder, four-stroke snowmobile. The goals of this effort included reducing exhaust and noise emissions to levels below the U.S National Parks Service (NPS) Best Available Technology (BAT) standard while increasing vehicle dynamic performance with a 50 percent peak power increase over the original equipment version. Engine thermal efficiency has been increased through Late Intake Valve Closure (LIVC) valve timing modification for Miller cycle operation, while high load power was increased through the implementation of a turbocharger and variable electronic boost control. An electronic throttle was also implemented in combination with a “performance/economy” mode switch to limit speed and increase fuel efficiency per the rider's demands.

A 1999 Chevrolet Silverado truck was converted to operate on E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). The vehicle design was centered around four primary customer driven goals: maintaining or exceeding the performance of the current gasoline fueled vehicle, improving emissions, constructing a system that can be easily and economically integrated into production, and finally making this system invisible to the operator. Ethanol is a good choice for an alternative fuel, however it has some drawbacks. High ethanol blend fuels can provide lower exhaust and evaporative emissions, higher power, and higher efficiency than engines operating on gasoline. However, cold startability and material compatibility issues must be addressed. This paper describes the design modifications and performance changes resulting from the conversion to dedicated, high ethanol blend fuel operation.

This paper describes experiments conducted to determine the effect of multiple spark discharge ignition systems and spark plug electrode design on cold start performance of a dedicated E85 fueled vehicle. Tests were conducted using three different ignition configurations: OEM ignition and spark plugs, multiple spark discharge ignition with OEM spark plugs, and multiple spark discharge ignition with large gap circular electrode spark plugs. The multiple spark discharge ignition with OEM spark plugs showed a significant improvement in cold start performance over the OEM ignition, but the addition of the circular electrode spark plugs caused a decrease in cold start performance. The circular ground spark plugs did produce a higher ending coolant temperature than either of the other configurations.

This paper describes the experiments conducted to determine the effect of high energy multiple spark discharge (MSD) ignition systems and spark plug electrode design, on the cold start performance of a vehicle which was converted for dedicated operation on E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) fuel. Tests were conducted using three different ignition configurations; original equipment manufacturer (OEM) ignition and spark plugs, high energy multiple spark discharge (MSD) ignition with OEM, J-type spark plugs, and high energy MSD ignition with surface gap electrode spark plugs. The high energy MSD ignition with OEM spark plugs showed a significant improvement in cold start performance over the OEM ignition. The addition of the surface gap spark plugs caused a decrease in cold start performance. Despite this, the surface gap spark plugs produced higher ending coolant temperature than the other configurations.

Kettering University has developed a cleaner and quieter snowmobile using technologies and innovative methods which can be applied in the real world with a minimal increase in cost. Specifically, a commercially available snowmobile using a two cylinder, four-stroke engine has been modified to run on high-blend ethanol (E-85) fuel. Further, a new exhaust system which features customized catalytic converters and mufflers to minimize engine noise and exhaust emissions has developed. A number of additional improvements have been made to the track to reduce friction and diminish noise. This paper provides details of the snowmobile development the results of these efforts on performance and emissions. Specifically, the Kettering University snowmobile achieved reductions of approximately 72% in CO, and 98% in HC+NOx when compared with the 2012 standard. Further, the snowmobile achieved a drive by noise level of 73 dbA while operating on hard packed snow.

Affordable clean snowmobile technology has been developed. The goals of this design included reducing exhaust emissions to levels which are below the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2012 standard. Additionally, noise levels were to be reduced to below the noise mandates of 78 dB(A). Further, this snowmobile can operate using any blend of gasoline and ethanol from E0 to E85. Finally, achieving these goals would be a hollow victory if the cost and performance of the snowmobile were severely compromised. Snowmobiling is, after all, a recreational sport; thus the snowmobile must remain fun to drive and cost effective to produce. The details of this design effort including performance data are discussed in this paper. Specifically, the effort to modify a commercially available snowmobile using a two cylinder, four-stroke engine is described. This snowmobile was modified to run on a range of ethanol blended fuels using a closed-loop engine control system.