This paper presents real-world driving energy and fuel consumption results for the second-generation Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). A drive cycle, local to Michigan Technological University, was designed to mimic urban and highway driving test cycles in terms of distance, transients and average velocity, but with significant elevation changes to establish an energy intensive real-world driving cycle for assessing potential energy savings for connected and automated vehicle (CAV) control. The investigation began by establishing baseline and repeatability of energy consumption at various battery states of charge. It was determined that drive cycle energy consumption under a randomized set of boundary conditions varied within 3.6% of mean energy consumption regardless of initial battery state of charge. After completing 30 baseline drive cycles, a design for six sigma (DFSS) L18 array was designed to look at sensitivity of a range of parameters to energy consumption as related to connected and automated vehicles to target highest return on engineering development effort. The parameters explored in the DFSS array that showed the most sensitivity, in order of importance, were battery state of charge, vehicle mass, propulsion system thermal conditioning, HVAC setting and driver behavior. Each of these areas are explored for energy savings and discussed briefly in the context of CAV control opportunity for energy savings potential.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Connected Vehicles and Powertrain Optimization

This article discusses the basic concept of connected and automated vehicles (CAV) technology. The common methods to improve fuel economy are also introduced. The effects of connectivity on vehicle/powertrain control and optimization are also elaborated. The Michigan Tech NEXTCAR project is also presented to provide a more detailed view of predictive vehicle/powertrain control enabled by CAV technologies. The U.S. Department of transportation (DOT) and other federal/state funding agencies have supported research and pilot deployment efforts to develop crosscutting CV technologies and evaluate the effectiveness of CV technologies in real-world transportation systems. The concurrent development of connected and automated vehicle technologies is anticipated to provide synergistic benefits to improve traffic safety, mobility, and energy efficiency. Here, it is observed that increased CAV technologies are being deployed in real-world transportation systems.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗