SwRI: Vehicle Research and Development, Hybrid Vehicle Development

	SwRI engineers designed, prototyped, and developed this hybrid integral transmission to use in a passenger car.

Automotive manufacturers strive to provide vehicles with dramatically improved fuel economy and reduced emission capabilities. Hybrid vehicles offer the best opportunity to meet these requirements.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) offers unique capabilities for electric and hybrid vehicle research and development. SwRI staff specialize in:

• Modeling

• Energy recovery systems

• Energy storage systems

• Combustion

• Materials

• Manufacturing

• Emission control

• Systems integration

Hybrid Electric Vehicles

	SwRI designed and developed this hybrid electric drivetrain that can operate in 4 different modes and can achieve 70 miles per gallon of fuel.

In designing and fabricating a hybrid electric vehicle, SwRI engineers perform a variety of tasks, including:

• Vehicle and component simulation

• Control algorithm development

• Mode-to-mode transition optimization

• Electric component sizing

• Energy storage determination

• Powerplant and component integration

• Battery evaluation

• Regenerative braking optimization

• Hybrid hydraulic vehicles

Taking advantage of high specific power, hybrid hydraulic vehicles can deliver large amounts of power continuously throughout their speed-torque envelopes. Using extensive experience in designing and fabricating parallel and series hydraulic hybrid vehicles, SwRI engineers:

• Package pumps, motors, accumulators, and hoses

• Accommodate high-pressure accumulators, hoses, and fittings

• Develop energy-management controllers

• Design multiple-input gearboxes

SwRI is evaluating a phosphoric acid fuel cell-power hybrid electric bus to determine if the bus can be modified to simplify operations and to allow the bus to be operated in hot climates. Automotive engineers model the existing systems, determine which areas need modification, and integrate appropriate changes.

Fuel Cells for Hybrid Vehicles

	SwRI is evaluating a phosphoric acid fuel cell-power hybrid electric bus to determine if the bus can be modified to simplify operations and to allow the bus to be operated in hot climates. Automotive engineers model the existing systems, determine which areas need modification, and integrate appropriate changes.

Fuel cells, which harness the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity and water, have the potential of radically changing the automotive industry. Making fuel cells practical for automotive use, however, may require on-board reforming of hydrocarbon fuels. SwRI is working with government and industry on fuel cell-related projects such as:

• Performance enhancement

• Thermal management

• System integration

• Fuel cell characterization

• Materials development

• Catalytic materials

• Alternative hydrogen source evaluation

For more information about hybrid vehicle development capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Alan Montemayor at amontemayor@swri.org or (210) 522-6940.