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With growing demands for better fuel economy and reduced carbon emissions there is a need for smaller and more fuel efficient engines. At the same time, to improve passenger comfort there are also demands placed on improved vehicle quietness [1]. A Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) system or a higher compression ratio system can be used to obtain better fuel economy but the enhanced combustion rate causes an increase in engine vibration in the medium to high frequency range [2, 3]. To ensure vehicle quietness, this issue of structure-borne noise that is transmitted from the engine mounts to the body must be addressed. In this paper a simple anti-vibration active mount system is introduced that can significantly reduce structure-borne noise at medium to high frequencies. This is achieved by adding mass to the insulator which leads to resonance at lower frequencies, in order to obtain double anti-vibration performance.

This paper describes the performance evolution and key breakthroughs of the world's first one-motor two-clutch (1M2CL) parallel full hybrid system without a torque converter that was developed and implemented on a hybrid luxury sedan in November 2010. The high potential of this hybrid system was brought out further to improve fuel economy without sacrificing acceleration performance. The resultant second generation of the 1M2CL parallel full hybrid system was applied to a hybrid premium sports sedan in August 2013. In order to improve these performance attributes, the following key technical measures were adopted: 1 Motor torque during the EV mode was increased to expand the EV drive region. 2 Maximum motor torque and battery power at engine startup were boosted to reduce the engine start time. 3 Integrated control of the motor and clutches was improved. 4 Mechanical efficiencies were improved for higher fuel economy.

The efforts of the ISO “Test Variability Task Force” have been aimed at improving the understanding and at reducing brake dynamometer test variability during performance testing. In addition, dynamometer test results have been compared and correlated to vehicle testing. Even though there is already a vast amount of anecdotal evidence confirming the fact that different procedures generate different friction coefficients on the same brake corner, the availability of supporting data to the industry has been elusive up to this point. To overcome this issue, this paper focuses on assessing friction levels, friction coefficient sensitivity, and repeatability under ECE, GB, ISO, JASO, and SAE laboratory friction evaluation tests.

A new highly biofidelic side impact dummy, the WorldSID 50th percentile male, has been developed under the supervision of the International Organization for Standardization in order to harmonize a number of existing side impact dummies in one single dummy. Momentum is growing for using the WorldSID in safety tests in the EU and the US. In the present study, two Euro-NCAP pole side impact tests were conducted to compare ES-2 and WorldSID responses in a mid-size SUV with respective seating positions as stipulated in the Euro-NCAP test conditions and fitted with the same side airbag. It was found that, compared with ES-2, the chest, abdomen and pelvis accelerations of WorldSID are more sensitive to variation in the applied external load transmitted by the deployed side airbag and door intrusion.

Implementation of appropriate safety measures, either from the viewpoint of a vehicle or the society or the infra-structure, it is an important issue to clearly understand the multi-dimension complicated real world accident scenarios. This study proposes a new method to easily capture and to extract the essence of such complicated multi-dimension mutual relationship by visualizing the results of SOM (Self Organizing Map). The FARS data from 2010 is used to generate a dataset comprised of 16,180 fatal passenger car drivers and 48 variables. The 16,180 fatal drivers were clustered using hierarchy cluster analysis method and mapped into a two-dimensional square with one dot representing one fatal driver using SOM.

This paper presents a project undertaken by Ricardo and the Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) working group in the UK. The purpose of this project is to develop a method to encourage fuel efficiency in motorsport and enable vehicles running different types of fuels to race on a competitive basis without having to set up a complex set of rules for every application and while maintaining exciting racing for both teams and spectators. Motorsport technologies typically focus on maximum vehicle performance as their prime criteria for optimisation. In this respect they have begun to diverge from the primary technological goal of road car development, which is now focussed around improvement of efficiency and fuel economy.

This paper proposes and evaluates improvements to a crash simulation of a fuel delivery module in a fuel tank. The simulations were performed in ANSYS/LS-DYNA. Deviations between the original simulation and test data were studied and reasons for the deviations hypothesized. These reasons stemmed from some of the simplifying assumptions of the model. Improvements consisted of incorporating plasticity and strain rate effects into the material models. Performance criteria were also directly incorporated into the material models such that non-performing portions of the model could be deactivated during the simulation. Finally, solid-fluid interactions were added into the simulation to include the momentum transfer from fuel to the fuel delivery module. It was previously thought that effects of a crash would be most severe on the module when the fuel tank was empty and the module was full with fuel.

Networking of active and passive safety is the fundamental basis for comprehensive vehicle safety. Situation-relevant information relating to driver reactions, vehicle behavior and traffic environment are fed into a crash probability calculator, which continually assesses the current crash risk and intervenes when necessary with appropriate measures to avoid a crash and reduce potential injuries. This provides effective protection not only for vehicle occupants but also for other, vulnerable road users. As this functionality up till now only relates to the vehicle itself, the next logical step is enhancement leading to the ultimate goal in safety performance, telematics. The integration of this embedded, in-vehicle wireless communication system allows Car-to-Car (C2C) and Car-to-Infrastructure (C2I) functionality for, e.g. hazard warning. This is an integral element of the cascaded ContiGuard® protection measures.

The AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR) Development Partnership has published early 2008 the specifications Release 3.0 [1], with a prime focus on the overall architecture, basic software, run time environment, communication stacks and methodology. Heavy developments have taken place in the OEM and supplier community to deliver AUTOSAR loaded cars on the streets starting 2008 [2]. The 2008 achievements have been: Improving the specifications in order to secure the exploitation for body, chassis and powertrain applications Adding major features: safety related functionalities, OBD II and Telematics application interfaces.

With the aim of reducing CO2 emissions, several solutions exist presenting different performances and costs. Hybrid electric vehicle is one of the most efficient solutions and lead to fuel consumption and CO2 emissions reduction of 10 to 60 % compared to conventional vehicle and depending on the level of hybridisation and the considered speed cycle. In the context of the European project Hi-CEPS (Highly integrated Combustion Electric Propulsion System), several thermal management solutions have been investigated with the aim of increasing the global vehicle efficiency and tackling hybrid-vehicle-specific cabin comfort challenges such as cabin heating. Intermittent operation of the engine in a hybrid electric vehicle (Stop & Start, pure electric vehicle mode) has detrimental effects on engine and cabin warm-up.

This paper reports on an investigation into the potential for a thermoelectric generator (TEG) to improve the fuel economy of a mild hybrid vehicle. A simulation model of a parallel hybrid vehicle equipped with a TEG in the exhaust system is presented. This model is made up by three sub-models: a parallel hybrid vehicle model, an exhaust model and a TEG model. The model is based on a quasi-static approach, which runs a fast and simple estimation of the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The model is validated against both experimental and published data. Using this model, the annual fuel saving, CO2 reduction and net present value (NPV) of the TEG’s life time fuel saving are all investigated. The model is also used as a flexible tool for analysis of the sensitivity of vehicle fuel consumption to the TEG design parameters. The analysis results give an effective basis for optimization of the TEG design.

The earliest public domain reference regarding full engine testing of an automotive catalyst was from January 1959, written by GM and presented at the annual SAE meeting in Detroit. This current publication will review the first public domain paper referencing different aftertreatment technologies (such as TWC, LNT, DPF and SCR, but not limited to these technologies) and compare the technologies to the current state of the art in aftertreatment technology. This historical review using a range of databases, will show how exhaust aftertreatment technologies have significantly enhanced emissions control over the last 60 years for both gasoline and diesel applications. A timeline will be given showing when various technologies were first presented into the public domain. This will indicate how long it has taken certain emissions control technologies to enter the market.

Excitement, image and emotion are key attributes for cars, particularly those with higher power ratings. Engine sound has traditionally acted as the car’s voice, conveying these attributes to the driver and passengers along with the brand image. Engine sound also underpins the dynamic driving experience by giving instant feedback about how a car is operating, enhancing the connection between driver and vehicle. For decades, the automotive industry has engineered engine sound to achieve these benefits, thereby defining the ‘language’ of car sound. Electric vehicles deliver strong and responsive performance but naturally lack the acoustic feedback that internal combustion engines provide. While this gives advantages in terms of comfort and environmental noise, the benefits of engine sound are lost. Carefully controlled acoustic feedback inside the car’s cabin brings tangible and valuable benefits both for the dynamic driving experience and to convey the brand image.

In the research project between the Institute of Automotive Engineering (FZD) of the Technische Universität Darmstadt (TUD) and Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG a new modeling concept has been developed. With the aim to enhance the current development process, the brake caliper is modeled based on coupled rigid bodies integrated into a nonlinear system model. Using an explicit interface definition, the number of degrees of freedom is minimized and the calculation of caliper performance is possible over a wide range of parameters. Compared to models based on the Finite Element Method (FEM), fully parameterized geometry from CAD is not necessary, thus the caliper can be optimized for a variation of its geometrical and physical parameters. With this modeling approach, typical performance criteria such as caliper fluid displacement, hysteresis, uneven pad wear and residual torque can be calculated in a virtual bench test.

High-voltage nanosecond gas discharge has been shown to be an efficient way to ignite ultra-lean fuel air mixtures in a bulk volume, thanks to its ability to produce both high temperature and radical concentration in a large discharge zone. Recently, a feasibility study has been carried out to study plasma-assisted ignition under high-pressure high-temperature conditions similar to those inside an internal combustion engine. Ignition delay times were measured during the tests, and were shown to be decreasing under high-voltage plasma excitation. The discharge allowed instant control of ignition, and specific electrode geometry designs enabled volumetric ignition even at high-pressure conditions.

A correct prediction of the initial stages of the combustion process in SI engines is of great importance to understand how local flow conditions, fuel properties, mixture stratification and ignition affect the in-cylinder pressure development and pollutant formation. However, flame kernel growth is governed by many interacting processes including energy transfer from the electrical circuit to the gas phase, interaction between the plasma channel and the flow field, transition between different combustion regimes and gas expansion at very high temperatures. In this work, the authors intend to present a comprehensive, multi-dimensional model that can be used to predict the initial combustion stages in SI engines. In particular, the spark channel is represented by a set of Lagrangian particles where each one of them acts as a single flame kernel.

The car buying public’s enthusiasm for electric vehicles continues to accelerate rapidly, driven by a desire to fulfil global climate change objectives, and supported by tax incentives. However, range anxiety persists as one of the main barriers to take-up, because larger battery packs remain heavy and expensive (cell price reductions are slowing). One way to mitigate these disadvantages is to fit a range extender system, powered by an efficient internal combustion engine, but such systems can cause noise concerns. Ricardo has developed a simulation-based approach, pragmatically applicable at concept stage, to define the range extender operating conditions that minimize the impact on noise heard by the driver and passengers inside the vehicle. Transfer path analysis considered both air-borne and structure-borne noise contributions from the range extender, in context with noise contributions from electric drive unit, road and wind, under various typical vehicle operating conditions.

The US American government introduced a law to mandatorily equip passenger vehicles with rear view cameras. Furthermore, US NCAP presented a test for passenger vehicles to brake on pedestrians while back up. These two circumstances lead to main motivation of the development of the Comfort Backup Assist (CBUA). Nevertheless, more and more passenger cars in general are being equipped with rear view cameras. Rear view system (RVS) allows to deliver a rear-view camera system including a braking functionality which is intended to make the driving mission safer and reduce the number of accidents in parking driving situations. RVS also focus on vehicle safety by reducing accidents while taking reversing/parking scenarios and to provides slow de-acceleration of the vehicle gradually to avoid jerk and increase the ride comfort.

The design of the spring pack providing torsional compliance within motorcycle clutch assemblies is often determined from the mean torque and a factor to allow for torque fluctuations. While this approach may work for many applications the selected spring rates can sometimes cause a driveline resonance within the operating speed range with major implications for NVH. For motorcycle engines it is also often impossible to select a spring rate low enough to shift the resonance below the operating speed range due to the requirement to transmit torques under steady load and transient events within tight spring package constraints. This paper demonstrates the approach of using a linear frequency domain analysis to model the entire driveline, from the crankshaft to the bike mass, to provide a relatively quick assessment of the driveline torsional vibration and assess potential design solutions.

This paper describes a newly developed electrified powertrain that incorporates various energy-saving improvements and is intended for use on a 2013 model year EV. Based on a 2011 model year EV that was specifically designed and engineered as a mass-produced EV, this powertrain integrates the traction motor, inverter and charging unit to achieve a smaller, lighter package for expanding application to more vehicles. Integration of the motor and inverter in particular reduced the part count for enhanced assembly ease, in addition to reducing heat transfer, noise and vibration. The specific features described in the paper are the three points below. Improving the layout of the inverter parts in order to downsize and integrate the inverter with the motor. Reducing the transfer of heat from the motor to the inverter. Reducing the excitation forces of the motor and optimizing the inverter for noise and vibration.