Car News and Reviews: IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON EXPERTISE FOR RAC ...

The RAC Future Car Challenge 2011, construct put petroleum day onSaturday 5 November, is unlock to electric, hybrid, hydrogen andlow-emission interior combustion engine cars and light-commercialvehicles. The confront characteristic entrants to drive a 60-mile way fromBrighton to London by,by means of the smallest amount quantity of energy. The inaugural eventlast day was a enormous success and achieved its aim of publiclyshowcasing the extremely newest low-energy vehicles.

For the organisers of the RAC Future Car Challenge (FCC) present are twomain technological challenges. First, to be grateful for completely the extensivedevelopment in new and low-energy automotive engineering. Second, tomeasure precisely the power inspired by vehicles captivating fraction " toestablish reliable dimension protocols for all entrants and provideclear and meaningful consequences for interested parties, counting thebuying public. The organisers are satisfied to contain the extensive andknowledgeable capital of Imperial College London to give theexpertise and unbiased input to the event's regulations, measurementprocedures and consequences analysis. This determination construct on the far above the ground height ofsuccess in power dimension on the 2010 occasion and match theconsiderable pace of low-energy vehicle development.

Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas, Dr David Howey, Dr Robin North and ClemensLorf, as of the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London, leaders inelectric and hybrid vehicle research, include the elected TechnicalTeam of the RAC Future Car Challenge and determination labor closely by means of theevents Technical Panel and the occasion organisers.

At a particular FCC Technical Seminar detained at Imperial College Londonrecently, interested entrants had the chance to study of the roleof the school and appreciate the measuring process and plannedresults analysis. They now too clever to lift path about themeasurement of power consumed. The organisers be grateful for so as to thefitting of the bespoke FCC Data-logger, shaped for the occasion byGeneral Engine Managements System Ltd (GEMS), is not alwaysstraightforward, particularly in pre-production prototype/developmentvehicles. In addition, talk to of the school explained ongoingdevelopment labor to precisely measure petroleum use via vehicle CO₂ emissions, construct determination be trialled throughout petroleum existence occasion on a figure of low CO₂ interior combustion engined cars.

Unlike in 2010, all consequences of the FCC determination be complete community immediatelyfollowing the event. Post event, detailed analysis determination be shaped bythe school in conjunction by means of the RAC Foundation, a sponsor of theFCC, construct determination give interesting energy/model comparisons.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas said: "Measuringenergy use crossways a variety of dissimilar vehicles is technically quitestraightforward but fake need the use of complicated sensors anddata-logging equipment. We shall be by,by means of two dissimilar data-loggersspecially shaped by General Engine Managements System. Pure electricvehicles determination be fitted by means of a FCC DA-EV data-logger, essentiallymeasuring present and voltage, and a GPS unit. Other vehicles determination use aFCC DA1 OBD2 data-logger, to measure (via a CAN-bus interface), fuelflow, battery voltage and current, and determination too be fitted by means of a GPSunit. We too reserve the correct to undertake random checks on energyconsumption by,by means of additional aptitude " to validate the CAN-bus data.

"The FCC Data-loggers determination be removed at the finish, the informationdownloaded and the electrical and/or petroleum power inspired by eachvehicle determination be intended and complete public. This information determination decide thewinners of every of the categories."

Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committeeand the FCC Technical Panel, says: "We desire the dimension of energyused to be complete as quite and precisely as likely so so as to talk to ofthe community get delivery of helpful and dependable information. Also, petroleum willgenerate a normal file for prospect use.

"Given the diversity of vehicles " electric, hybrid, hydrogen and low CO₂internal combustion " petroleum represents a substantial technicalchallenge. We are grateful to Ricardo and his side at Imperial CollegeLondon, construct has everyday jobs extensive behind-the-scenes labor to ensureaccurate dimension of power used."

At the seminar, it was decided so as to entrants of vehicles captivating fraction inthe occasion counting be supplied by means of the ,essential FCC data-loggers andsensors etc. six to knowledge weeks previous to the create " thus allowing timefor any appropriate evils to be overcome and for the accuracy of the datato be validated.

Work is too ongoing to fit the FCC Data-loggers by means of GPRS (generalpacket radio service) to enable real-time use of the vehicles andview live, via the occasion website, the power existence form consumedindependently on every vehicle.

Compared to 2010, present contain person's name a number of significant profits to theregulations. Prototype vehicles determination be recognised and get delivery of awardsseparate to persons of manufacture tip and the vehicle power typecategories contain person's name revised to:
1.    Pure Electric (EV)
2.    Extended-Range/Plug-In Electric (E-REV, PHEV)
3.    Hybrid (HV, HEV)
4.    Hydrogen (HFEV)
5.    Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) - up to 110g/km CO₂ emission fuelled by any lawful means
Last existence entry catalog for the RAC Future Car Challenge includedprototypes and pre-production vehicles as of procedure genuine as Honda,Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall, BMW, Skoda and Volkswagen, aswell as present manufacture cars offering the highest custom ofefficiency in spite of of completely powertrain.

For 2011 the sum figure of entries allowable has person's name greater supposed before to 90and the variety of the entry catalog has person's name recognised by theorganisers by means of a variety of awards in in excess of 20 dissimilar vehiclecategories. The overall winner determination be the entrant of the vehicle thatuses the smallest amount quantity of power in excess of the route.