A recent graduate from the School of Engineering of Barcelona (ETSEIB), Toni Font, presented a proposal during his final thesis to increase the energy sustainability of hybrid cars.

The proposal is based on one of the problems of conventional vehicles: they waste or lose kinetic energy during braking. This waste leads to high fuel consumption and an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Font proposes the installation of a supercapacitor battery and the creation of software to coordinate and manage the new elements.

In a standard driving cycle, the modifications lead to up to 67% less fuel consumption and up to 63% less energy consumption than a conventional vehicle of the same size with no hybrid components. In addition, it uses 55% less energy than a standard hybrid vehicle.

The supercapacitor facilitates the work of the battery, preventing current peaks that can diminish performance and transfer the remaining energy.

The software has four operational modes for the vehicle depending on its propulsion system. As the most suitable motor is activated for the type of driving, this technology brings about energy savings and reduces CO2 emissions.

The proposal received a research grant from Italian auto manufacturer Ferrari. Ferrari announced in January of this year that it was awarding six study grants of EUR25,000 to graduates/graduating students conducting research activities on CO2 reduction, car weight reduction, and man-machine interface.


-  Katrice R. Jalbuena

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Sources:

¹ http://www.upc.edu/saladepremsa/al-dia/mes-noticies/hybrid-vehicles-that-are-even-more-efficient
² http://www.upc.edu/saladepremsa
³ http://www.ferrari.com/English/News/Pages/12january09_cor_1.aspx
⁴ http://www.ferrari.com/English/Pages/Home.aspx