HIGH PERFORMANCE COMMUTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES

The paper reviews Australia's requirement for liquid fuel for its transport fleet and concludes that major savings can be accomplished by the introduction of electric vehicles which satisfy the commuting task. It concludes that for road compatability in the hilly city of brisbane, a flywheel of 750 kj is required. It illustrates the vehicle performance which can be obtained by utilising a Ward- Leonard electric connection of the flywheel and the car either with a series or parallel connection of the battery in the armature circuit. Since regeneration of braking energy is essential for maximising the vehicle's range the paper emphasises the need to have a variable potential sink for the motor which acts as a generator during braking. Further it concludes that the series connection is most likely the more suitable for the low average speed, stop/go city and suburban traffic. The paper also discusses the constraints on battery size and postulates that the testing of a hybrid vehicle designed for commuting traffic will not only significantly reduce the liquid fuel consumption but is a minimum risk path to follow for the eventual introduction of an all electric commuting vehicle when high energy batteries become a reality. (Author/TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Motor Vehicle Fuel Conservation Workshop, Melbourne, February 1981.
• Corporate Authors:

  Australian Department of National Devel and Energy

  Hobart Place
  Canberra, A.C.T.,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • BULLOCK, K J
  • McConachie, P J
• Publication Date: 1981-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Braking; Commuting; Conferences; Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Flywheels; Hybrid vehicles; Regenerative braking; Urban transportation; Work trips
• ITRD Terms: 1315: Battery; 1874: Braking; 8525: Conference; 1282: Electric vehicle; 1324: Flywheel; 621: Journey to work
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00342976
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 29 1982 12:00AM