realising low carbon vehicles

Realising low carbon vehicles

For more information please visit:

www.cranfield.ac.uk/automotive

Cranfield UniversityCranfieldBedfordshire MK43 0ALUnited KingdomT: +44 (0)1234 750111

Postgraduate programmes

Cranfield’s postgraduate programmes are offered across our areas of expertise and are created and delivered with valuable input from practitioners in industry. Delegates have ample opportunities to investigate real-world challenges and to provide innovative solutions, with a focus on the future needs of industry. Our graduates are highly sought after and are part of an elite international network of alumni.

For more details please visit: www.cranfield.ac.uk/students/courses

Continuing professional development

Cranfield University is recognised as a leading provider of CPD and short courses. Courses are delivered by Cranfield academics as well as industry experts to ensure up-to-the-minute commercially-focused outcomes. Cranfield-based, or bespoke in-house courses, offer an invaluable way of keeping up-to-date with the latest technological developments and management strategies.

Our diverse short courses range from one day to six weeks in duration. For full details please visit: www.cranfeld.ac.uk/short

Our partners

Cranfield works with major players in the automotive field. Our partners include:

ArvinMeritor•

Aston Martin•

BOC Group•

Energy Saving Trust•

EPSRC•

European Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium•

Jaguar•

Land Rover•

Millbrook Proving Ground•

MIRA •

Morgan•

NICE•

Nissan•

Provector•

QinetiQ•

Williams F1•

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

Image courtesy a

Image courtesy M

organ Motor C

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Hybrid and electric vehicle design and novel power trains

Cranfield has an impressive track record in the design and integration of near-to-market solutions for hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. At the heart of this is our expertise in novel power trains and their ability to have a positive environmental impact through improved efficiencies and reduced emissions.

A variety of research is conducted ranging from improvements to conventional internal combustion engines to innovative power train platforms to the control of tyre slip. Our ability to work right through the value chain from initial vehicle feasibility studies through to detailed design and manufacture highlights the added benefit Cranfield can offer.

Our work in this area is best summarised by highlighting the major programmes we have contributed to:

NICE Super Light Electric Sport Car• – built around a super-light carbon-fibre cell within a traditional coupe body the vehicle is powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries, and also features a novel all-electric drive train with no mechanical transmissions and gears. It uses advanced electronic subsystems instead of mechanical parts for regenerative braking and other ancillaries to help save weight and to increase efficiency.

VIETA• – Vehicle Independent Electric Transmission Architecture (VIETA) – based on a novel hybrid mechanically linked electric in-wheel drive. The project involves electrical machine design, power electronics, control development, thermal management, packaging and integration.

EASIVT• – the aim of the EASIVT (Electrically Assisted Infinitely Variable Transmission) project is to investigate the potential of a mild hybrid Ford Expedition equipped with an IVT, in terms of improved driveability and reduced fuel consumption.

ADDZEV• – Affordable Add-on Zero Emissions Vehicle is aimed at accelerating hybrid technology into the market. The ADDZEV project targets the light commercial legacy fleet market for a low cost hybridisation option that will materially reduce the running costs for fleet managers. VRLA technology and intelligent integration ensures low cost, in addition to congestion charge penalty reduction.

Tyre Slip Control• – this work focuses on defining fundamental traction characteristics for common off-road surfaces. From this knowledge, traction control systems can be designed to minimise energy lost in wheel slip and the use of energy intensive interventions with brakes for wheel speed control. Control of slip with protected forward motion reduces damage to environmentally sensitive off-road surfaces.

For more information please contact:Professor Nick Vaughan, Head of Automotive Engineering DepartmentE: [email protected]

Dr Patrick Luk, Head of Power and Drives GroupE: [email protected]

Dr James Brighton, Off Road Vehicle DynamicsE: [email protected]

Alternative Fuels

Our underpinning research into the specification, integration and management of fuel cell systems is helping realise hydrogen as a credible alternative fuel source. Two of our most notable fuel cell projects are:

LIFECar• – to manufacture a lightweight, energy efficient, fuel cell hybrid electric sports vehicle, based on the Morgan Aero 8. The power train is made up of a 26 kW fuel cell stack in parallel with a bank of ultra capacitors and four, wheel-mounted, electrical machines. Part-funded by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), LIFECar is a two and half-year long project. The LIFECar partnership is made up of the Morgan Motor Company, QinetiQ, Cranfield and Oxford University.

Hyrban• – the design and construction of a demonstration fuel cell hybrid vehicle, targeted primarily for urban applications. The vehicle employs an ambient pressure, 6 kW fuel cell stack in parallel with ultra capacitors to demonstrate sufficient performance and vehicle range to make this a viable option for urban transportation.

Cranfield’s expertiseCranfield’s mission to transform knowledge into ingenious solutions in science, technology and management makes us one of the world’s foremost innovators. As a wholly postgraduate university, our deep expertise in specialist areas means that we are uniquely placed to work effectively with policymakers and industry.

We have an established history of research and teaching in the field of low carbon vehicles and have developed dedicated facilities to support this. The spectrum of our activities spans experimentation and analysis of a wide range of technical issues; it includes system design, the manufacturing process and its organisation, together with human factors in vehicles.

Diesel is, currently and for the foreseeable future, a major fuel for passenger and commercial vehicle engines. Our research is actively involved in looking at replacement or part replacement of diesel fuel with alternative fuels. Fuels that have been studied include LPG, ethanol, bio-ethanol and hydrogen.

Our work in the waste and energy sectors is aiding the development of carbon neutral fuels from sustainable sources. Cranfield’s research ranges from the production and clean utilisation of fossil fuels to turbine technology and the use of waste as fuel.

For more information, please contact:Professor Nick Vaughan, Head of Automotive Engineering DepartmentE: [email protected]

Mr John Oakey, Head of Energy Technology CentreE: [email protected]

Lightweight materials and manufacturing

Utilising Cranfield’s expertise in the design, application and manufacture of lightweight materials Cranfield can develop components optimized for minimum weight, a key factor in producing fuel efficient low emission vehicles.

Our pioneering work with resin infusion techniques for carbon fibre is just one area where our technology is enabling the cost effective manufacture of lightweight composites.

Thermoplastics offer advantages in terms of weight and cost when compared to conventional steel and aluminium alloys which can be related to minimisation of carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption. These technologies have been applied to the test and development of next generation thermoplastic engine oil sumps.

For more information please contact:Professor Kambiz Kayvantash, Head of Centre for Automotive TechnologyE: [email protected]

Human behaviour, routing and traffic management

In addition to the safety and environmental benefits that new technology can bring to the automotive sector, there are considerable gains to be made from focusing on the human factors related to driving. Cranfield University is a leader in applied research related to the impact of human factors in driving. The Driving Research Group addresses human factors and driving from the closely connected perspectives of driver risk management and environmental impact.

The Group conducts research and consultancy for its clients related to improving the safety and environmental impact of drivers. Current and previous projects include:

development of a risk assessment and simulator solution to • address safe and fuel efficient driving for Balfour Beatty PLC

the construction of the UK’s first bus simulator with Arriva • PLC

development of an online global Fleet Driver Safety Training • System for AstraZeneca

VREAM – is an innovative vehicle routing model that has • been developed by the Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management. A computer based model that calculates the amount of CO2 emitted from road journeys, as well as the time and distance. VREAM will select the most fuel efficient route by using roads on which a vehicle can maintain the optimum speeds that minimise fuel consumption.

For more information, please contact:Mr Neil Godfrey, Human FactorsE: [email protected]

Dr Andrew Palmer, Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain ManagementE: [email protected]