'16/'17 Project Background Section Overview
Within this section of the webpage, the projects motivations, aims and objectives shall be outlined for reference purposes.
The is intended to support Section 0. of the Final Report submission, visible within the "Project Documentation" section of this website.
​
If you have any queries regarding this section of the website, or indeed any other, get in touch utilising the dedicated "Contact Us!" tab.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Project Motivations
At present there is significant growth of investment within the automotive industry pertaining to HEV & EV vehicle technology developments. Examples of this are evident in Volkswagen recently announcing proposals to develop & manufacture over thirty electric vehicle nameplates between '15 and '25 and Daimler (Mercedes Benz) announcing plans for an $11bn investment in HEV & EV technologies; targeting electrification of 25% of their production volume by 2025 [1] [2]. In addition, regulations pertaining to automotive tailpipe emissions are significantly tightening and, in some cities, introduction of exclusion zones for ICE vehicles is being employed to combat increasingly negative air quality conditions; most notably in European cities such as London, Paris, Madrid & Barcelona [3] [4].
Following identification of opportunity within the context of such industrial shift; HEVTech@Strath was formed by Prof M. P. Cartmell.
​
The foundation principle of this project is effective utilisation of expertise, resources and critical analysis to such extent that detailed development of commercially-viable concepts may be performed, with aims of enabling University of Strathclyde informing industry. As the inaugural undertaking of this project, Project Group K were tasked with kick-starting what's hoped to be a successful 2-3yr venture, within the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department. Secondary project aims, though of more significance to individuals than the aims above, were provision of an interesting challenge through which criteria for MEng accreditation can be fulfilled.
Project Objectives
- The specified principle intention of this project is to identify, & where time-permitting develop, an innovative conceptual alternative fuel vehicle, capable of attaining class leading status within the automotive & private transport industries within a 2-year product life cycle.
- This intention will be achieved via the allocation & performance of two primary objective sub-sets to be completed within schedule and in agreement with the Statement of Purpose, visible within the "Project Documentation" tab. The sub-set objectives are elucidated as follows;
​
​
OBJECTIVE SET ONE
​
- Selection of a minimum of 15 hybrid electric vehicles for architectural analysis & technical assessment.
- Calculate ratio of cost to mpg for each of the selected vehicles through use of appropriate, reliable & standardised test data.
- Refinement of vehicle selection to 5 vehicles & subsequent performance of detailed assessment & inter-architecture analysis.
- Comparisons of the '12 Grid-independent Toyota Prius Liftback and the '12 Grid-dependent Toyota Prius Plug-in nameplates.
-Investigate & determine the causation for the Nissan Altima Hybrid's discontinuation in '12.
OBJECTIVE SET TWO
​
- Performance of analysis pertaining to trends in global automotive markets & identification of forecasts & investments towards technology.
- Identification of obstacles hindering, or preventing where relevant, HEV & EV up-take and present analysis pertaining to mitigations.
- Performance of an assessment of infrastructural developments, considering at a min. historic & future investment in 4 major UK cities.
- Assessment of electrical energy storage developments; identifying historic trends, current capabilities and forecast developments.
- Consolidated decision, considering all above, regarding identification of a proposed commercially viable concept (2-yr development).
​
- (Resource permitting) High-level conceptual development of the proposed vehicle; including generation of models & specification sheet.
​​
​
​
​
[1] Huggler, J. [2016] "VW 'to invest £8bn in battery factory' in bid to reinvent itself as EV maker" [Accessed 18-Mar]@https://goo.gl/cnkN52
[2] Lambert, F. [2016] "Daimler announces $11 billion investment in electric vehicles" [Accessed 18-Mar] @https://goo.gl/fzdRD4
[3] McGrath, M. [2015] "Four major cities move to ban diesel vehicles by 2025" [Accessed 20-Mar] @https://goo.gl/Umz52J
[4] Heztner, C. [2017] "Why tougher EU emissions rules put the combustion engine's future in doubt" [Accessed 20-Mar] @goo.gl/85wuTP
​