Technical Paper
Hydraulic Power Assist − A Demonstration of Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle Regenerative Braking in a Road Vehicle Application
2002-11-18
2002-01-3128
With the desire for improved fuel economy for road vehicles, there has been increased interest in Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle (HHV) technology. The inherent power density of HHV makes significant benefits from regenerative braking possible in higher- mass vehicles. Other advances in hydraulic components make HHV practical in a passenger vehicle. A vehicle to demonstrate Hydraulic Power Assist (HPA), a type of HHV using primarily regenerative braking, was built by Ford Motor Company Advanced Powertrain working jointly with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Advanced Technology Division, in the context of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). A full size Sport Utility Vehicle was fitted with a hydraulic pump/motor and valve block provided by Ifield Technologies, and carbon fiber accumulators developed by the US EPA.