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During the interval from 1985 to 1993, the major automotive manufacturers of Western Europe, America, and Japan introduced experimental and prototype battery electric vehicles (EV) to the public. These electric vehicle technical developments have demonstrated that the automotive industry is responsive and creative in proposing potential solutions to the key concerns which have constrained the widespread application of the EV in the past. While this technical assessment included: identification of the key concerns and innovative solutions to aerodynamic drag reduction, tire loss reduction, and compared acceleration performance, vehicle range, regenerative braking, batteiy developments, fast recharging, unique passenger compartment heating and cooling solutions, and low mass vehicle structural materials; the scope of this paper is limited to reporting the performance and vehicle range results.

Battery electric propulsion presents opportunities to regeneratively recover vehicle kinetic energy and provide: unique integrated regenerative braking options singly and/or in combinations; to further improve vehicle energy economy by methods which are not inherently applicable to the conventional internal combustion powered automobile. There are three basic modes to be considered in the design of regenerative braking systems for battery electric vehicles: service braking, programmable deceleration, and emergency braking. Furthermore, the type of traction motor, the driving schedule, and charging characteristics of the associated battery pack are essential considerations involved in designing regenerative braking systems for optimal recovery of vehicle kinetic energy and optimizing battery pack life.

Battery electric propulsion presents opportunities to recover vehicle kinetic energy and provide: unique integrated regenerative braking options singly and/or in combinations; to further improve vehicle energy economy by methods which are not applicable to conventional internal combustion powered vehicles. There are three basic modes to be considered in the design of regenerative braking systems for battery electric vehicles: service braking, programmable deceleration, and emergency braking. Furthermore, the type of traction motor, the driving schedule, and charging characteristics of the battery pack are essential considerations involved in designing regenerative braking systems for optimal recovery of vehicle kinetic energy and optimal battery pack life.