HEV TECHNOLOGIES @ STRATH

The following summarise the '16/'17 Project Groups recommendations & advice; to be considered by subsequent Project Groups.

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• The performance of an equivalent familiarisation task should be mandatory; though the group suggests some tweaks to the approach

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Principally this task facilitated rapid development of familiarity with industry terminology & identification of performance critical parameters. In addition, the task served as a means through which the group could, at project initiation, collaborate to meaningful outcome and in doing so enabled development of a strong group synergy, subsequently informing group structuring prior to tackling larger undertakings.

Though beneficial as is, the group would suggest that questions be 'modernised' somewhat to enable a greater focus upon recent technological developments & their impact upon HEV & EV capabilities; perhaps questions pertaining to comparisons of the '14 & '17 BMW i3 Series, Grid-Dependent range extension model ('17 model has +50% of battery capacity yet maintains cost, mass & volume) [1].

 

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• A short-term research task should be performed pertaining to outcomes of UK Grant Reviews & their impact upon HEV & EV sales. 

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In March of '17, the UK's Plug-in Grant fiscal incentive levels will under-go review [2]. Although the '16/'17 Project Group has attempted to account for this through ensuring qualification for the 2nd-tier grant (£2,500) in their proposed concept, it is not yet known the likely outcomes of the government's review. Therefore, a brief review should be performed to confirm or amend the concept as necessary. In addition, since the subsequent Project Group will not initiate the development task until late-September or early-October, there will likely have been a period where-in sales of HEV & EVs under the refined Plug-in Grant levels and as such there is scope for analysis as to the initial impact of amendments to fiscal incentives upon market penetration of HEV & EV architectures [3]. In addition, Scottish Government's interest free HEV & EV loan scheme is under review during March of '17 and as such may also merit assessment, at Client discretion [4].

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• Software suites procured (Matlab, Simulink & Simscape Driveline) should be employed for conceptual design purposes.

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As presented within Section 8. of the '16/'17 Final Report, linked via .pdf icon above, it was determined through a thorough & structured process that the Matlab-based environments specified above would be of most effective for conceptual development of a HEV (or EV) power-train. Justifications, again provided within the .pdf report, include prominence of model assumptions for validation purposes, availability of expertise & tuition (both locally within the university & online) and industry-leading capabilities. 

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Further information pertaining to the software, including links to tutorial & webinar resources, are available through the icons below;

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