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Remote diagnostic systems support diagnostic communication by having the capability of sending diagnostic request services to a vehicle and receiving diagnostic response services from a vehicle. These diagnostic services are specified in diagnostic protocols, such as SAE J1979, SAE J1939 or ISO 14229 (UDS). For the purpose of diagnostic communication, the tester needs access to the electronic control units as communication partners. Physically, the diagnostic tester gets access to the entire vehicle´s E/E system, which consists of connectors, wiring, the in-vehicle network (e.g. CAN), the electronic control units, sensors, and actuators. Any connection of external test equipment and the E/E system of a vehicle poses a security vulnerability. The combination can be used for malicious intrusion and manipulation.

A small hybrid system was developed for the 2009 model hybrid vehicle. The Intelligent Power Unit (IPU), which consists of a high-voltage battery and a Power Control Unit (PCU), occupies 19% less volume and is 28% lighter than the previous model(1). In order to reduce the size and weight of the IPU, the number of nickel-metal hydride battery modules was reduced, enabling the battery box to be made smaller and lighter. In order to provide the necessary output with fewer battery modules, the length of the battery electrodes was increased, thus raising the output from each battery module. The volume and weight of the PCU were reduced by integrating the inverter, DC-DC converter, and ECU into a single package. The size reduction of the IPU enabled the IPU to be installed at the bottom of the luggage compartment. As a result, the available space in the luggage compartment is the same as that of a conventional vehicle.

A laboratory study was performed to optimize a zoned configuration of an iron (Fe) SCR catalyst and a copper (Cu) SCR catalyst in order to provide high NOx conversion at lean A/F ratios over a broad range of temperature for diesel and lean-burn gasoline applications. With an optimized space velocity of 8,300 hr-1, a 67% (by volume) Fe section followed by a 33% Cu section provided at least 80% NOx conversion from approximately 230°C to 640°C when evaluated with 500 ppm NO and NH3. To improve the lean lightoff performance of the SCR catalyst system during a cold start, a Cu SCR catalyst that was 1/4 as long as the rear Cu SCR catalyst was placed in front of the Fe SCR catalyst. When evaluated with an excess of NH3 (NH3/NO ratio of 2.2), the Cu+Fe+Cu SCR system had significantly improved lightoff performance relative to the Fe+Cu SCR system, although the front Cu SCR catalyst did decrease the NOx conversion at temperatures above 475°C by oxidizing some of the NH3 to N2 or NO.

Since 1992, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has been working on the development of fuel cell system technology. TMC is designing principal components in-house, including fuel cell stacks, high-pressure hydrogen storage tank systems, and hybrid systems. TMC developed the ‘02 model TOYOTA FCHV, the world-first market-ready fuel cell vehicle, and started limited lease of the vehicles in December 2002. In June 2008, TMC developed a new TOYOTA FCHV-adv which obtained vehicle type certification in Japan, and is currently available for leasing in Japan and the United States. In the development of the TOYOTA FCHV-adv, TMC has improved the cruising range and cold start/drive capability from the previous TOYOTA FCHV. The TOYOTA FCHV-adv has achieved an actual cruising range of over 500 km, which is equivalent to that of current gasoline vehicles. In addition, the TOYOTA FCHV-adv has proven starting/driving capability at -30°C temperature.

A dual piston Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) engine has been newly developed. This compact VCR system uses the inertia force and hydraulic pressure accompanying the reciprocating motion of the piston to raise and lower the outer piston and switches the compression ratio in two stages. For the torque characteristic enhancement and the knocking prevention when the compression ratio is being switched, it is necessary to carry out engine controls based on accurate compression ratio judgment. In order to accurately judge compression ratio switching timing, a control system employing the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) was used to analyze vibration generated during the compression ratio switching. Also, in order to realize smooth torque characteristics, an ignition timing control system that separately controls each cylinder and simultaneously performs knocking control was constructed.

Recently invented solutions (Canadian Patent 2593305 and United States Patent Applications 20090015008 and 20070194567) incorporate sphere-to-cone type of the interaction between sealing surfaces in a brake tube connector. An interaction of sphere-to-cone type has numerous advantages over one with a cone-to-cone type which is currently utilized in conventional automotive brake tube connectors. Incorporation of a sphere-to-cone interaction between the sealing surfaces dramatically improves connector's sealing robustness. Sphere-to-cone based connectors are resilient to the tube and seat axes misalignment. Correspondingly, sphere-to-cone based connectors have less variation of the securing torque and virtually no propensity to locked misalignment occurrence. The article analyzes another fundamental advantage of a sphere-to-cone mating over the conventional cone-to-cone one.

The present study investigates cold start at very low temperatures, down to −29 deg C. The experiments were conducted in an optical light duty diesel engine using a Swedish class 1 environmental diesel fuel. In-cylinder imaging of the natural luminescence using a high speed video camera was performed to get a better understanding of the combustion at very low temperature conditions. Combustion in cold starting conditions was found to be asymmetrically distributed in the combustion chamber. Combustion was initiated close to the glow plug first and then transported in the swirl direction to the adjacent jets. A full factorial study was performed on low temperature sensitivity for cold start. The effects of cooling down the engine by parts on stability and noise were studied. Furthermore, different injection strategies were investigated in order to overcome the limited fuel evaporation process at very low temperatures.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are becoming widely used high-energy sources and a replacement of the Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Because of their light weight and high energy density, Li-ion cells can significantly reduce the weight and volume of the battery packs for EVs, HEVs and PHEVs. Some materials in the Li-ion cells have low thermal stabilities and they may become thermally unstable when their working temperature becomes higher than the upper limit of allowed operating temperature range. Thus, the cell working temperature has a significant impact on the life of Li-ion batteries. A proper control of the cell working temperature is crucial to the safety of the battery system and improving the battery life. This paper outlines an approach for the thermal analysis of Li-ion battery cells and modules.

Modern diesel Fuel Injection Equipment (FIE) systems are susceptible to the formation of a variety of deposits. These can occur in different locations, e.g. in nozzle spray-holes and inside the injector body. The problems associated with deposits are increasing and are seen in both Passenger Car (PC) and Heavy Duty (HD) vehicles. Mechanisms responsible for the formation of these deposits are not limited to one particular type. This paper reviews FIE deposits developed in modern PC and HD engines using a variety of bench engine testing and field trials. Euro 4/ IV and Euro 5/V engines were selected for this programme. The fuels used ranged from fossil only to distillate fuels containing up to 10% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) and then treated with additives to overcome the formation of FIE deposits.

Electric vehicle development is at a crossroads. Consumers want vehicles that offer the same size, performance, range, reliability and cost as their current vehicles. OEMs must make a profit, and the government requires compliance with emissions standards. The result - low volume, compromised vehicles that consumers don't want, with questionable longevity and minimal profitability. In-wheel motor technology offers a solution to these problems; providing power equivalent to ICE alternatives in a package that does not invade chassis, passenger and cargo space. At the same time in-wheel motors can reduce vehicle part count, complexity and cost, feature integrated power electronics, give complete design freedom and the potential for increased regenerative braking (reducing battery size and cost, or increasing range).

For a series plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), it is critical that batteries be sized to maximize vehicle performance variables, such as fuel efficiency, gasoline savings, and zero emission capability. The wide range of design choices and the cost of prototype vehicles calls for a development process to quickly and systematically determine the design characteristics of the battery pack, including its size, and vehicle-level control parameters that maximize the net present value (NPV) of a vehicle during the planning stage. Argonne National Laboratory has developed Autonomie, a modeling and simulation framework. With support from The MathWorks, Argonne has integrated an optimization algorithm and parallel computing tools to enable the aforementioned development process. This paper presents a study that utilized the development process, where the NPV is the present value of all the future expenses and savings associated with the vehicle.

Today's automotive and electronics technologies are evolving so rapidly that educators and industry are both challenged to re-educate the technological workforce in the new area before they are replaced with yet another generation. In early November 2009 Ford's Product Development senior management formally approved a proposal by the University of Detroit Mercy to transform 125 of Ford's “IC Engine Automotive Engineers” into “Advanced Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineers.” Two months later, the first course of the Advanced Electric Vehicle Program began in Dearborn. UDM's response to Ford's needs (and those of other OEM's and suppliers) was not only at the rate of “academic light speed,” but it involved direct collaboration of Ford's electric vehicle leaders and subject matter experts and the UDM AEV Program faculty.

With the introduction of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), the conventional mindset of “fill-up time” will be challenged as customers top off their battery packs. For example, using a standard 120VAC outlet, it may take over 10hrs to achieve 40-50 miles of EV range-making range anxiety a daunting reality for EV owners. As customers adapt to this new mindset of charge time, it is critical that automotive OEMs supply the consumer with accurate charge time estimates. Charge time accuracy relies on a variety of parameters: battery pack size, power source, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), on-board charging equipment, ancillary controller loads, battery temperature, and ambient temperature. Furthermore, as the charging events may take hours, the initial conditions may vary throughout a plug-in charge (PIC). The goal of this paper is to characterize charging system sensitivities and promote best practices for charge time estimations.

Fuel wall impingement commonly occurs in small-bore diesel engines. Particularly during engine starting, when wall temperatures are low, the evaporation rate of fuel film remaining from previous cycles plays a significant role in the autoignition process that is not fully understood. Pre-injection chemiluminescence (PIC), resulting from low-temperature oxidation of evaporating fuel film and residual gases, was measured over 3200 μsec intervals at the end of the compression strokes, but prior to fuel injection during a series of starting sequences in an optical diesel engine. These experiments were conducted to determine the effect of this parameter on combustion phasing and were conducted at initial engine temperatures of 30, 40, 50 and 60°C, at swirl ratios of 2.0 and 4.5 at 1000 RPM. PIC was determined to increase and be highly correlated with combustion phasing during initial cycles of the starting sequence.

Axiomatic design is utilized to identify the design characteristics of an On-Line Electric Vehicle and to manage the design information. The On-Line Electric Vehicle, which is being developed at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, is a different concept of an electric vehicle from conventional electric vehicles which use the electric power of a charged battery(s). It is operated by an electric power supplied by the contactless power transmission technique between the roadway side and the vehicle. In other words, the power is transmitted based on the principle of an electric transformer. The On-Line Electric Vehicle can overcome the limitations of conventional electric vehicles such as the weight of the battery and driving distance problems. Because designers have little experience and knowledge about the On-Line Electric Vehicle in the developmental stage, an appropriate design guide is needed. The axiomatic approach is employed for the design process.

As the number of electrical devices in modern vehicles increases, the battery becomes more critical component for the operation of vehicles. To ensure the startability of the vehicle, battery conditions such as state of charge and state of health should be properly monitored and maintained. To reduce walk-home incidents due to no-start situation, appropriate warning should be issued to the driver to advise necessary actions such as replacing or re-charging the battery. For the last couple of years, General Motors has studied and developed several battery health monitoring methods based on different battery health signatures. Yet, it is found that relying on a single method may lead to false alarm or misdetection due to lack of information or uncertainty. This paper develops the algorithm for more robust and reliable battery health monitoring and prognosis, by applying Evidence Theory to fuse different battery health signatures.

Current focus on techniques to reduce the tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of road vehicles is increasing the interest in hybrid and electric vehicle technologies. Pure electric vehicles require bulky, heavy, and expensive battery packs to enable an acceptable drivable range to be achieved. Extended-range electric vehicles (E-REVs) partly overcome the limitations of current battery technology by having an onboard fuel converter that converts a liquid fuel, such as gasoline, into electrical energy whilst the vehicle is driving. Thus enabling the traction battery storage capacity to be reduced, whilst still maintaining an acceptable vehicle range. This paper presents results from a drive style analysis toolset that enable US and EU fleet vehicle drive data to be categorized and compared. Key metrics, such as idle frequency, idle duration, vehicle speed, and vehicle acceleration are analyzed.

This paper proposes a framework to perform design optimization of a series PHEV and investigates the impact of using real-world driving inputs on final design. Real-World driving is characterized from a database of naturalistic driving generated in Field Operational Tests. The procedure utilizes Markov chains to generate synthetic drive cycles representative of real-world driving. Subsequently, PHEV optimization is performed in two steps. First the optimal battery and motor sizes to most efficiently achieve a desired All Electric Range (AER) are determined. A synthetic cycle representative of driving over a given range is used for function evaluations. Then, the optimal engine size is obtained by considering fuel economy in the charge sustaining (CS) mode. The higher power/energy demands of real-world cycles lead to PHEV designs with substantially larger batteries and engines than those developed using repetitions of the federal urban cycle (UDDS).

Wide attention to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) comes from two huge issues currently the world is facing with: the concern of the petroleum reserves depletion due to consequent oil dependence and the earth global warming due in some extent to vehicle emissions. In this background, Hyundai, along with its sister company Kia, has been building the FCEVs and operating their test fleet with several tens of units at home and abroad. Since 2004, 32 passenger vehicles have been offered for the Department of Energy's controlled hydrogen fleet and infrastructure demonstration and validation project in the U.S. In the meantime, from 2006, 30 passenger vehicles as well as four buses, featuring the in-house developed fuel cell stack and its associated components, are currently under the domestic operation for the FCEV learning demonstration led by the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy.

This paper evaluates the impact of energy management strategy on the cost benefits of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) by taking into account the impact of PHEV energy management on battery life and petroleum displacement over the life of the vehicle. Using Battery in the Loop (BIL), a real battery is subjected to transient power demands by a virtual vehicle. The vehicle energy management strategy is varied, resulting in different battery utilization scenarios. Battery life, which varies with battery utilization, is estimated for the different energy management scenarios. The same representative drive cycle is used over the different energy management strategies to isolate the impact of energy management on battery utilization. PHEV gasoline savings, in comparison to a charge sustaining hybrid, are calculated for each of the energy management strategies, for a fixed distance of 40 miles.