ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRACTION BATTERY MODULE MONITOR TEST RESULTS FOR WYLE AND PROPEL SYSTEMS

The Wyle and Propel units for monitoring parameters of the traction battery of electric vehicles were tested by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The monitor testing was performed at TVA's Electric Vehicle Test Facility (EVTF) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The work was part of the electric vehicle program at TVA and was co-sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The monitors are designed to indicate modules that are providing significantly less energy than other modules in the battery pack and which therefore need maintenance or need to be replaced. Testing was performed on the bench, as a part of static load tests, and in vehicles. Both monitors sought to detect low energy capacity modules by measurement of pack current, evaluation of an equation, and comparison of the result with the actual voltage of each module. With the Wyle breadboard unit, the equation parameters were adjustable; whereas with the Propel unit, they were not. Based on the results from static load tests, the Wyle monitor was deemed unacceptable due to numerous false alarms exhibited in its use. The Propel monitor detected low energy capacity modules and reliably indicated modules with a low electrolyte level. During static load tests, the pack voltage and current, as well as each module voltage, were recorded using a digital computer, and results were compared with those displayed by the monitor under test. The monitors were tested in Volkswagen Electrotransporter electric vehicles for over one year. About 5989 miles were logged with the Wyle, and about 6015 miles were logged with the Propel.

• Corporate Authors:

  Tennessee Valley Authority

  Division of Energy Demonstrations and Technology
  Chattanooga, TN  United States 
• Authors:
  • Buffet, R K
  • Blickwedel, T W
• Publication Date: 1985-5

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 96 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Motors; Static loads; Traction; Traction drives; Vehicle tests
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457175
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Energy Research Abstracts
• Report/Paper Numbers: TVA/OP/EDT-85/21
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:40PM