A Comparative Fuel Analysis of a Novel HEV with Conventional Vehicle

© 2017 IEEE. Improvements in fuel economy have always been a dominating driver of vehicle engineering. With some exceptions, benefits attained from hybrid powertrains to transient power delivery has not been the emphasis of research and development efforts. Developing cities around the world would realise significant benefits from improvements to fuel economy, which is outlined in this research by assessing the benefits of a novel HEV architecture. These benefits are compared to a conventional ICE-powered vehicle equivalent, which has an advantage in terms lower upfront costs. The commercial success of HEV implementation, therefore, is determined by its price comparison to conventional vehicles and payback over a number of years of use. This becomes especially important in regions of low-middle income, where the market is much more price-sensitive. The fuel economy of a conventional vehicle and mild hybrid electric vehicle are compared in this paper. This analysis includes vehicle modelling and simulation. Fuel economy is assessed and referenced with standard drive cycles provided by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Results demonstrate the benefits of a lower ongoing cost for the HEV architecture

A system analysis and modeling of a HEV based on ultracapacitor battery

© 2017 IEEE. There is a clear shift toward the implementation of electrified vehicles in the market, influenced by the introduction of stricter mandatory regulations on fuel economy improvement and emissions reduction. Of these vehicles, the penetration of hybrid vehicles in the market has much potential for growth in the next few years. The adoption of these vehicles has been limited by the high cost of HEV's, which have less uptake in developing regions. Considering this point, developing countries would see the greatest benefit in adopting HEV technology. A mild hybrid system has an observable advantage in these markets due to its maximum benefit/cost ratio when compared to a full hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles. This paper discusses the development of a mild hybrid system for such markets with a focus on improving drive performance and efficiency. To achieve this, high power density ultracapacitors are used based on their fast charging and discharging characteristics, together with intelligent drivetrain control taking advantage of the ultracapacitors' characteristics to deliver smooth torque delivery during gear change (torque-filling). A comparison and analysis is undertaken, of both conventional powertrain and an otherwise identical powertrain but for the incorporation of components required for the mild hybrid system. Software models simulated the powertrains in specific driving conditions, with observations made of the advantages of MHEV over conventional drivetrains. The model demonstrated increased fuel efficiency and performance

Eliminating the torque hole: Using a mild hybrid EV architecture to deliver better driveability

© 2016 IEEE. Hybrid vehicle engineering has traditionally and dominantly focused on fuel economy benefits and emissions reductions. Although the transient power delivery benefits of hybrid powertrains are well-understood, these are not a primary focus of the majority of research and development efforts, with some exceptions. Our approach to this problem is to deliver a low-cost, low-tech mild-hybrid powertrain, with unique power delivery features designed to appeal to price-sensitive, but aspirational consumers. The powertrain is a simple post-transmission parallel hybrid configuration. It utilizes a low-powered four-cylinder engine coupled to a four-speed manual transmission through a robotically-actuated clutch. A low-voltage BLDC motor is directly connected to the transmission output shaft, before the final drive. Our research focuses on bringing the benefits of HEV architecture to the world's developing cities, where, it can be confidently argued, local emissions reductions are needed the most. Crucial to the success of this research is the understanding that compared to an equivalent ICE-powered vehicle, an HEV competes at a price disadvantage, no matter how cost-effective the solution is. This disadvantage is amplified in regions of low-middle income, where price sensitivity is greatest. It must, therefore, present better value than an equivalent conventional vehicle if it is to be commercially successful in these particularly price-sensitive markets. We discuss the extent to which control can be used to deliver transient power delivery gains in such a setup, and offer an example powertrain for simulation. To validate the concept, simulation of this research is performed in MATLAB and Simulink. The prototype is based on a generic engine and a BLDC motor. The results mainly focus on the electric drive and comparison of the transient response of drivetrains

Using a low-cost bluetooth torque sensor for vehicle jerk and transient torque measurement

© IMechE 2019. This paper presents the use and development of a specific wireless torque measurement system that is used to obtain the transient torque performance of vehicle transmissions. The torque sensor is strain-based, using surface-mounted strain gauges on a prop shaft. The gauges are connected to a compact printed circuit board, which is clamped to the shaft next to the strain gauges using a three-dimensional printed housing. The printed circuit board contains an amplifier, low-pass filter, analog-to-digital converter, microcontroller and bluetooth transceiver. The printed housing is impact resistant carbon-reinforced nylon and securely retains the printed circuit board and the battery powering the device. The transmitted torque data are received by a transceiver, which is interfaced to a PC through an RS-232 connection. NI LabVIEW is used to process, display and save data. The wireless torque sensor was installed to the Unit Under Test at the output shaft of the five-speed manual transmission. The Unit Under Test was installed on a dynamometer for verification purposes and the transient torque was recorded under various operational conditions. The transient output torque of the manual transmission is measured and compared with results obtained from simulations performed under similar operating conditions. The two sets of transient responses show a good correlation with each other and hence demonstrate that the torque sensor meets the major design specifications. The data obtained will be used to enhance the fidelity of the software model

Impact of Low and High Congestion Traffic Patterns on a Mild-HEV Performance

Copyright © 2017 SAE International. Driven by stricter mandatory regulations on fuel economy improvement and emissions reduction, market penetration of electrified vehicles will increase in the next ten years. Within this growth, mild hybrid vehicles will become a leading sector. The high cost of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) has somewhat limited their widespread adoption, especially in developing countries. Conversely, it is these countries that would benefit most from the environmental benefits of HEV technology. Compared to a full hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicle, a mild hybrid system stands out due to its maximum benefit/cost ratio. As part of our ongoing project to develop a mild hybrid system for developing markets, we have previously investigated improvements in drive performance and efficiency using optimal gearshift strategies, as well as the incorporation of high power density supercapacitors. In this paper, the fuel and emissions of a baseline conventional vehicle and mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) are compared. The objective of this analysis is to compare the fuel economy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of the baseline and MHEV models, using low and high-density traffic patterns chosen for their similarity to traffic density profiles of our target markets. Results demonstrate the benefits of a lower ongoing cost for the HEV architecture. These advantages include torque-hole filling between gear changes, increased fuel efficiency and performance

Comparative fuel economy, cost and emissions analysis of a novel mild hybrid and conventional vehicles

© IMechE 2017. Mild hybrid vehicles have been explored as a potential pathway to reduce vehicle emissions cost-effectively. The use of manual transmissions to develop novel hybrid vehicles provides an alternate route to producing low cost electrified powertrains. In this paper, a comparative analysis examining a conventional vehicle and a mild hybrid electric vehicle is presented. The analysis considers fuel economy, capital and ongoing costs and environmental emissions, and includes developmental analysis and simulation using mathematical models. Vehicle emissions (nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons) and fuel economy are computed, analysed and compared using a number of alternative driving cycles and their weighted combination. Different driver styles are also evaluated. Studying the relationship between the fuel economy and driveability, where driveability is addressed using fuel-economical gear shift strategies. Our simulation suggests the hybrid concept presented can deliver fuel economy gains of between 5 and 10%, as compared to the conventional powertrain

A low-cost and novel approach in gearshift control for a mild-hybrid powertrain

© 2017 IEEE. A novel, the low-cost mild hybrid powertrain is described. It relies on a manual, or robotized manual transmission together with a BLDC motor coupled at the output for filling the torque hole between gear changes. In order to keep manufacturing cost low and improve commercial attractiveness, it incorporates gearshift strategies that deliver high-quality gear shifts. A deliberate downsizing of componentry is implemented as far as possible to reduce cost, and control strategies are employed to exploit the maximum potential of the architecture using methods including torque-fill, ICE-assist, and ICE start-stop. The architecture is developed in simulation using an existing conventional platform to investigate system properties and their effect on performance. In particular, we discuss the gear-shift control algorithm design. Until the cost of full hybrids and fuel cell vehicles is significantly reduced, such a mild hybrid may have the potential to provide the right cost-benefit balance to achieve strong market penetration

Active surveillance in males with low- to intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer: A modern prospective cohort study

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcome of males with low-risk and favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer managed within a standardized modern protocol of active surveillance. Materials and methods: This was a prospective cohort study with strict and expanded active surveillance criteria in males with prostate cancer. Baseline assessment included multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), extended systematic biopsy, and software-based MR-targeted biopsy. Follow-up included biannual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) check, mpMRI, and control biopsy once a year for the first 2 years, and afterward mpMRI every 2 years with additional tests as clinically indicated. The primary outcome was the transition rate to active treatment. Results: A total of 51 patients were included: 17 (33%) and 34 (67%) followed protocols of strict (study arm 1) and expanded (study arm 2) active surveillance criteria, respectively. Median age and PSA were 65 years (IQR, 60-69 years) and 5.3 ng/mL (IQR, 4.5-7.7 ng/mL), respectively. At baseline, a median of 2 (IQR, 1-3) cores were positive out of 13 (IQR, 12-14) cores; 22 males (43%) had visible mpMRI lesions. Eight males (24%) in study arm 2 had Gleason score 3+4. After a median follow-up of 36 months (IQR, 24-48 mo), no patient in study arm 1 compared with 17 patients (33%) in arm 2 underwent active treatment (p<0.0005). Conclusions: Although expanding eligibility criteria leads to a greater transition rate to active treatment, active surveillance should be contemplated in well-selected males with favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer as the curability window seems to be maintained

Active surveillance in males with low- to intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer: A modern prospective cohort study.

To compare the clinical outcome of males with low-risk and favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer managed within a standardized modern protocol of active surveillance. This was a prospective cohort study with strict and expanded active surveillance criteria in males with prostate cancer. Baseline assessment included multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), extended systematic biopsy, and software-based MR-targeted biopsy. Follow-up included biannual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) check, mpMRI, and control biopsy once a year for the first 2 years, and afterward mpMRI every 2 years with additional tests as clinically indicated. The primary outcome was the transition rate to active treatment. A total of 51 patients were included: 17 (33%) and 34 (67%) followed protocols of strict (study arm 1) and expanded (study arm 2) active surveillance criteria, respectively. Median age and PSA were 65 years (IQR, 60-69 years) and 5.3 ng/mL (IQR, 4.5-7.7 ng/mL), respectively. At baseline, a median of 2 (IQR, 1-3) cores were positive out of 13 (IQR, 12-14) cores; 22 males (43%) had visible mpMRI lesions. Eight males (24%) in study arm 2 had Gleason score 3+4. After a median follow-up of 36 months (IQR, 24-48 mo), no patient in study arm 1 compared with 17 patients (33%) in arm 2 underwent active treatment (p<0.0005). Although expanding eligibility criteria leads to a greater transition rate to active treatment, active surveillance should be contemplated in well-selected males with favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer as the curability window seems to be maintained

Double Positive CD4⁺CD8⁺ T Cells Are Enriched in Urological Cancers and Favor T Helper-2 Polarization.

The immune system plays a central role in cancer development, showing both anti-tumor and pro-tumor activities depending on the immune cell subsets and the disease context. While CD8 T cells are associated with a favorable outcome in most cancers, only T helper type 1 (Th1) CD4 T cells play a protective role, in contrast to Th2 CD4 T cells. Double positive (DP) CD4 <sup>+</sup> CD8 <sup>+</sup> T cells remain understudied, although they were already described in human cancers, with conflicting data regarding their role. Here, we quantified and phenotypically/functionally characterized DP T cells in blood from urological cancer patients. We analyzed blood leukocytes of 24 healthy donors (HD) and 114 patients with urological cancers, including bladder (n = 54), prostate (n = 31), and kidney (n = 29) cancer patients using 10-color flow cytometry. As compared to HD, levels of circulating DP T cells were elevated in all urological cancer patients, which could be attributed to increased frequencies of both CD4 <sup>high</sup> CD8 <sup>low</sup> and CD4 <sup>+</sup> CD8 <sup>high</sup> DP T-cell subsets. Of note, most CD4 <sup>high</sup> CD8 <sup>low</sup> DP T cells show a CD8αα phenotype, whereas CD4 <sup>+</sup> CD8 <sup>high</sup> cells express both CD8α and CD8β subunits. Functional properties were investigated using ex-vivo generated DP T-cell clones. DP T cells from patients were skewed toward an effector memory phenotype, along with enhanced Th2 cytokine production. Interestingly, both CD8αα and CD8αβ DP T cells were able to trigger Th2 polarization of naïve CD4 T cells, while restraining Th1 induction. Thus, these data highlight a previously unrecognized immunoregulatory mechanism involving DP CD4 <sup>+</sup> CD8 <sup>+</sup> T cells in urological cancers