WestStart-CALSTART Launches 5 New Advanced Technology Projects
23 March 2000
WestStart-CALSTART Launches Five New Advanced Heavy-Duty Technology Projects for 2000
PASADENA, Calif.--March 22, 2000--Trinity Flywheels and Others Speed Use of Clean Technology
in Heavy-Duty Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
Advanced technologies for a new generation of electric and hybrid-electric heavy-duty vehicles got a big boost from five new WestStart-CALSTART demonstration projects designed to enhance the commercial viability of advanced transportation technologies.
The projects will demonstrate technologies that can replace some of the most-polluting and highest-fuel-use vehicles in the nation's fleets: heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Among the projects being funded are a first-of-its-kind fuel cell auxiliary power unit for heavy-duty trucks; a flywheel hybrid-electric transit bus; and a reliable, low-cost drivetrain for electric buses.
The projects have a total program value of $3.6 million and represent a partnership between WestStart-CALSTART, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and 11 companies. They advance heavy-duty vehicle technology capabilities in several key areas: energy storage; on-board power generation; and advanced electronics.
The projects are funded under the Advanced Vehicle Program (AVP), an industry partnership program of DOT and technology consortia to develop innovative, leading-edge technologies for transportation, from components to full vehicles, utilizing electric, hybrid-electric, natural gas and other technologies, including electronic control and communication systems.
"President Clinton and Vice President Gore are among America's strongest voices for promoting innovation, new technology, research and protecting the environment," U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater said. "These projects support those goals and tap the innovative strength of American industry in a partnership that works with the best of the private sector to achieve cleaner, more efficient transportation systems and provide increased jobs."
"These new programs keep pushing advanced vehicle technologies into the market," said Michael J. Gage, president and CEO of WestStart-CALSTART, the nation's leading advanced transportation consortium. "They have real commercial applications in the global market for cleaner, more efficient transportation."
Following are brief descriptions of the projects and technologies:
Freightliner Corp., headquartered in Portland, Ore., in conjunction with its development partners, dbb Fuel Cell Engines Corp. and DaimlerChrysler, will develop and conduct in-vehicle testing of fuel cell auxiliary power units for powering cabin power accessories in Class 8 trucks.
Class 8 trucks sitting at idle consume significant amounts of diesel fuel each year as well as produce large amounts of particulate and greenhouse gas emissions. This technology is the leading candidate to reduce or nearly eliminate the need for engine idling by offering a viable alternative to produce electric power for various accessories and cab/sleeper compartment climate control during non-driving operations.
Trinity Flywheel Power, with a team of three companies, will integrate a prototype Mobile Flywheel Power Module (MFPM) and controller to function with a hybrid power system in a transit bus and demonstrate it in regular revenue bus service. The hybrid vehicle platform is a standard 40-foot bus; ISE Research will supply the propulsion system.
This is the first demonstration of power management using flywheels in a transit application in the U.S. Flywheels, non-chemical battery technologies that store energy in a spinning wheel, show tremendous potential for storing and quickly releasing significant amounts of energy.
Santa Barbara Electric Transportation Institute (SBETI) will develop and demonstrate a reliable, low-cost electric propulsion system for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
The project will demonstrate that it can integrate existing battery-electric technologies into functional, reliable and serviceable electric propulsion systems, and that life-cycle costs can be competitive with systems using other fuels. Although a variety of medium- and heavy-duty vehicle applications are possible, the initial system will be installed in a school bus and demonstrated in regular service.
ISE Research Corp. (ISER), working with the City of Anaheim, Calif., will develop a state-of-the-art on-board battery charger for an all-electric tram serving the city. The project will focus on achieving advances in two key technology areas: development of a high- voltage DC-DC converter, and development of an improved accuracy state-of-charge meter.
Although the immediate application is a tram, the basic design of the vehicle will also enable subsequent application to the off-road vehicle market, including use in an aircraft pull tractor. ISER also will demonstrate use of direct drive systems using AC motors, which eliminates the need for a transmission.
Researchers at UC Davis will analyze and test various ultracapacitors for applicability in hybrid-electric vehicles. The goal of the project is to increase their energy density while using low-cost materials and available manufacturing facilities that will allow early commercialization at affordable costs.
WestStart-CALSTART is an advanced transportation technologies consortium that focuses on developing new, clean technologies and solutions in transportation. Working with private partners worldwide, WestStart-CALSTART provides technology development and demonstration, market analysis, and fleet implementation services. Its expertise includes electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), mobility services and fuel-cell technologies.