Campus Moncloa
Campus of International Excellence
Spanish technology and a porject with future: EPISOL vehicle
Researchers at the University Institute for Automobile Research (INSIA) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid belonging to the Sustainable mobility Cluster within the framework of Moncloa Campus and in collaboration with the Industrial Automation Institute (IAI-CSIC) and CEMUSE Company are participating in the EPISOL project which aims to design and to make a lightweight urban vehicle with hybrid electric propulsion.
28/06/2012
Researchers at the University Institute for Automobile Research (INSIA) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid belonging to the Sustainable mobility Cluster within the framework of Moncloa Campus and in collaboration with the Industrial Automation Institute (IAI-CSIC) and CEMUSE Company are participating in the EPISOL project which aims to design and to make a lightweight urban vehicle with hybrid electric propulsion.
Emissions from car traffic in the largest European capitals are an important environmental problem. Therefore, hybrid electric vehicles are a great solution to problems such as environmental pollution or the limited autonomy of pure electric vehicles.
According to the inventories published by the Madrid City Council, road transport is responsible for over 50% of emissions, 75% of NOx emissions, 90% of CO and 30% of emissions of volatile organic compounds.
In the last years, automakers and the government have carried out relevant research projects focused on the development of propulsion systems and alternatives fuels.
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a vehicle that at least one source of energy, storage or conversion can deliver electrical energy. The main elements of propulsion systems for hybrid vehicles are: batteries (storage system), heat engine (as an element that provides energy), electric engine / generator and the transmission.
A hybrid electric vehicle with fuel cell is a vehicle that at least two sources of energy, storage or conversion can deliver electrical energy. The main elements are: batteries (storage system), fuel cell (as an element that provides energy), electrical engine and transmission.
The EPISOL project: a trihybrid car
The EPISOL vehicle is an urban electrical vehicle of about 800 kg and one m3 of cargo, with a maximum speed of 70 km/h.
The initial settings of the EPISOL had a hybrid drive system with heat engine. By using this setting, the heat engine triggers a generator that is charging the batteries. These batteries are responsible for supplying energy to the electrical engine; this engine transmits power to the drive axle. Besides, they incorporated solar panels as an extra energy source as well as regenerative brakes.
Applications of this car
- Urban vehicles for respectful areas with the environment.
- Vehicles for internal displacement at the airport.
- Load vehicles for parks and gardens.
- Self cab vehicle.
- Vehicles for internal displacement at fairgrounds.
- Vehicles for the disabled.
Benefits of using this car
- The HEVs are a great solution to problems such as environmental pollution or the limited autonomy of pure electric vehicles.
- Only electric traction exclusively.
- Consumption and emission reductions.
- Energy savings by using regenerative breaking.
- Noise reduction.
- Fossil energy reduction trough solar energy collection.
Author of the article: José María López Martínez
Tag: Movilidad Sostenible Source: CEI Campus Moncloa
Event date:
28/06/2012
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