*Total cost of base case is estimated at $40,000. Options for Using China’s Coal in Cars: A Life-Cycle Assessment Using Optical Fibers to Monitor the Health of Concrete Structures Special Reports News Items, Publications and References, New and Renewed Projects I N T H I S I S S U E China is the world’s largest coal producer. Yet in recent years this coalrich nation has had to import petroleum,...

This work was one of the tasks of the Manufacturing2Client project, whose objective was to develop a frontal deflector to be commercialized in the automotive industry, using new project and manufacturing methods. In this task, in particular, it was proposed to develop the ability to predict computationally the aerodynamic influence of flow in vehicles, in an effort to reduce fuel consumption in...

1. Abstract A major challenge in automotive design is the creation of safe vehicles with minimal environmental impact. This study presents a modeling framework for evaluating and optimizing body designs for improved occupant safety and fuel efficiency. Vehicle body mass is considered as the main link between safety and sustainability. The modeling framework includes frontal crash energy absorpt...

In this paper design and fabrication of compact fluidized bed gasifier with increased gas – solid interaction is proposed for automotive vehicle. The aim of the design is generate a nitrogen (N2) free product gas with low tars and fines content. Firstly a compact size gasifier with fluidized bed is designed and after that it fabricated. Design was done with the help of CATIA design/modeling sof...

Fuel cells have the potential to become an important energy conversion technology. Research efforts directed toward the widespread commercialization of fuel cells have accelerated in light of ongoing efforts to develop a hydrogen-based energy economy to reduce dependence on foreign oil and decrease pollution. Proton exchange membrane (also termed “polymer electrolyte membrane”) (PEM) fuel cells...

This paper presents transformerless multilevel converters as an application for high-power hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) motor drives. Multilevel converters: 1) can generate near-sinusoidal voltages with only fundamental frequency switching; 2) have almost no electromagnetic interference or common-mode voltage; and 3) make an HEV more accessible/safer and open wiring possible for most of an HEV...

Hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel, is of key importance to various industrial applications, including fuel cells and in the aerospace and automotive industries. However, hydrogen gas is odorless, colorless, and highly flammable; thus appropriate safety protocol implementation and monitoring are essential. Highly sensitive hydrogen leak detection and surveillance sensor systems are needed; addition...

Environmentally friendly ground vehicles with range and performance capabilities surpassing those of conventional ones require a careful balance among competing goals for fuel efficiency, performance, and emissions. One research activity at the Automotive Research Center is to integrate hybrid electric vehicle simulations with high-fidelity engine modules to increase the accuracy of predictions...

The competition to deliver fuel e cient and environmentally friendly vehicles is driving the 1 2 Submitted to Journal of Dynamics Systems, Measurement, & Control automotive industry to consider ever more complex powertrain systems. Adequate performance of these new highly interactive systems can no longer be obtained through traditional approaches, which are intensive in hardware use and nal co...

INTRODUCTION RECENT years have seen many different initiatives aimed at bringing about a low-carbon society and it is anticipated that, in the automotive field, HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) that offer significant improvements in fuel consumption will precede EV (electric vehicles) in becoming the mainstream of future vehicle markets. HEVs achieve low fuel consumption and powerful performance...