Comparative study of performance of hybrid electrical vehicles

• Grant number: 13/24566-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Design
• Principal Investigator: Decio Crisol Donha
• Grantee: Renan Duarte Ribeiro dos Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Issues relating to energy efficiency, environmental protection and the reduction of global reserves of conventional fuels have prompted many automakers to focus efforts on developing more efficient and less polluting vehicle propulsion technologies. In this scenario, electric-hybrid vehicles (EHV) gained special prominence and are now considered real alternative to conventional vehicles.Recently, an innovative vehicle design was developed, which gives further support to EHV as a solution to energy problems of motoring, called Range Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV). It is a new concept of HEV similar to a plug-in, except for the fact that the combustion engine does not provide power directly to the wheels, but is only used as a generator to recharge its batteries. In this case, the wheels are driven exclusively by one or more electrical motors. The purpose of this work is to study the main features of REEVs, creating a model of the system that allows to simulate the interaction between its electric motors and internal combustion engine (ICE), the generator and the batteries. The objective is also to study the common HEV in series. It is intended to carry out numerical simulations to verify the energy efficiency of vehicles. With the knowledge obtained in each study, HEV in series and the emerging REEVs will be compared.