Energy efficiency improvement of series hybrid vehicle

A series hybrid electric vehicle is potentially suitable for operating at the optimum range of electricity generation as its generator and propulsion;rotor are mechanically separated. The present system was developed by taking advantage of its characteristics for drastic improvement of fuel economy. In this study the real-time generating and the tracing bottom line of the engine's brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) characteristics were mainly used to achieve improved energy transfer efficiency, minimized energy storage and improved generating efficiency. The system was tested on a vehicle of 1500 kg equivalent inertia weight and achieved a 94% or greater improvement of fuel economy. (C) 2001 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. and Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.