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In off-highway applications the engine torque is distributed between the transmission (propulsion) and other accessories such as power steering, air conditioning and implements. Electronic controls offer the opportunity to more efficiently manage the control of the engine and transmission as an integrated system. This paper deals with development of a steepest descent algorithm for maximizing the efficiency of hydrostatic transmission along with the engine in the presence of accessory load. The methodology is illustrated with an example. The strategy can be extended to the full hydro-mechanical configuration as required. Applications of this approach include adjusting for component wear and intelligent energy management between different accessories for possible size reduction of powertrain components. The potential benefits of this strategy are improved fuel efficiency and operator productivity.

Lithium plating refers to the phenomenon where lithium metal is deposited onto the surface of the anode instead of being intercalated into the carbon sites of the graphite. The lithium metal will cover a portion of the surface area of the anode, which blocks intercalation sites and increases charge gradients. Lithium plating most often occurs when charging the battery at low ambient temperatures or at a high current rate, but lithium plating formation has also been linked to solid electrolyte interface (SEI) growth towards the later stages of life. Lithium plating may significantly reduce a battery cell’s performance in terms of charge capacity, and if severe enough, the lithium metal may form a bridge across the separator of the cell, leading to short circuits and potential safety concerns. The internal research performed by Southwest Research Institute explored how to create a battery model to detect the formation of lithium plating in real time.