This electronic brochure highlights our capabilities and activities in the area of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles. Please sign our guestbook. For additional information, Bruce Bykowski, Southwest Research Institute.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

With more than 40 years of experience in automotive research, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) offers a unique range of capabilities for electric and hybrid vehicle research and development. The staff has extensive experience in the design, development, and evaluation of vehicle systems and hardware. As a multidisciplinary research and development organization, the Institute provides specialists in modeling, chemistry, combustion, materials, manufacturing, emission control, and systems integration.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Simulation

The Institute has created a highly flexible, comprehensive Electric Vehicle Integrated Simulation (ELVIS) model that can help the automotive industry develop electric, alternative fuel, and low-emission vehicles. Using this model, engineers helped the Advanced Research Projects Agency select and optimize auxiliary power units (APUs) for series hybrid cars and buses. On a mobile PC-based platform, ELVIS simulates varying operations of:

  • Pure electric vehicles
  • Series hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)
  • Parallel HEVs
  • Conventional mechanical drive vehicles
  • Regenerative braking (various methods with any of the above)

Drive System Development and Evaluation

SwRI can rapidly identify, assess, and develop alternative drivetrain concepts for virtually all ground vehicles and watercraft. Engineers have monitored electric vehicle operations for the Department of Energy and developed a control system for a hybrid electric armored personnel carrier for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Institute engineers optimized an electric conversion for racing and set a world land speed record for Class III electric vehicles at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Institute has developed a quick-change, removable APU for a series hybrid and has refined various APU power strategies. Specialties include developing:

  • Low-emission, closed-loop engine control
  • Natural gas engines
  • Computer-control and power electronics packages for AC and DC machines
  • Hybrid power control strategies
  • Electronics

Energy Conversion and Storage

The future success of electric vehicles depends heavily on power delivery capabilities and energy storage improvements. SwRI offers special capabilities in:

  • Battery and capacitor performance testing and service life evaluation over various conditions
  • Flywheel design, fabrication, and evaluation
  • Fuel cell and reformer development and systems integration
  • Alternative fuels development and evaluation

Emissions

As an emissions research pioneer, SwRI has facilities that are recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), engine and vehicle manufacturers, and many other organizations. Using an extensive range of dynamometers and analytical equipment, the Institute develops:

  • Engines designed for reduced emissions
  • Integrated engine/transmission control systems
  • Electrically heated catalysts
  • Advanced aftertreatment technology
  • Electric and hybrid vehicles designed for reduced emissions

Fleet Testing and Evaluation

True vehicle performance assessment depends on field demonstration under actual service conditions. Using fleet testing, SwRI has evaluated electric vehicles for the U.S. Department of Energy and antilock braking systems on Class 8 trucks for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The durability of components is evaluated for auto manufacturers. The Institute offers:

  • Fleet test statistical experiment design
  • Vehicle data acquisition equipment development, installation, and operation
  • Performance, maintenance, and reliability data analysis
  • Systems development and assistance

Using SwRI's temperature-controlled chassis dynamometer enclosure, this Institute vehicle was tested according to SAE J1711 to measure emissions and fuel economy of a hybrid electric vehicle.

Working with industry and the government, SwRI engineers extended the range of this electric bus with a low-emission rotary engine. The resulting hybrid vehicle was also designed to have air conditioning and heat added.

The Institute develops low-emission auxiliary power units for hybrid electric vehicles.

This brochure was published in February 1995. For more information about electric and hybrid vehicles, contact Bruce Bykowski, Phone (210) 522-2937, Fax (210) 522-3950, Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division, Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510.


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