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Track and dynamometer testing of the Eaton Dual Shaft Electric Propulsion (DSEP) minivan has been performed by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). The dynamometer testing included constant speed tests up to 88 km/h and driving cycle tests on the SAE J227a C and D cycles and the Federal Urban Driving Schedule (FUDS) as well as maximum effort acceleration tests. The dynamometer data were analyzed to determine the energy consumption (Wh/km) of the DSEP vehicle for the various driving modes and to project the range of the vehicle if the NiF170 nickel-iron battery had been at its rated capacity. Ranges of 90-125 miles at constant speeds and about 70 miles on the driving cycles were projected. Comparisons were made of the performance of the DSEP vehicle and the ETX-II and the TEVan minivans, which have been developed on other DOE and EPRI programs using lead-acid, nickel-iron, nickel-cadmium, and sodium-sulfur batteries.

Studies of battery management systems (BMS), including state-of-charge (SOC) algorithms, were performed in the Battery Test and Vehicle Dynamometer Laboratories at the INEL. The test and evaluation of the SOC algorithms indicated that the capacity rate dependent and adaptive approaches to determining battery SOC yielded RMS errors between the indicated and actual states-of-charge of less than 10% if battery temperature and aging effects were not dominate. The BMS tested were not sufficiently accurate and reliable to permit their use as the primary means of charge control during the various INEL test programs. Considerable progress has been made in the development of BMS, but further work is needed before the systems can be used with confidence in either the charge or discharge modes without careful attention from the user.