Date of Award

Spring 5-2017

Access Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair

Patrick Currier

First Committee Member

Marc Compere

Second Committee Member

Darris White

Abstract

Criteria emission reduction techniques are being more sought out in the automotive industry due to current government regulation for light duty vehicles. Parallel-series plug in hybrid electric vehicles can have multiple strategies to balance emissions and fuel consumption. Common controls strategies in industry target fuel economy by using a large electric vehicle range, known as charge depletion, followed by maintaining a state of charge after a specific vehicle threshold, or charge sustaining. A charge preserve strategy works by running an engine at an optimal loading condition, the engine will burn the fuel more complete reducing criteria emissions. Charge preserve will charge the vehicle more rapidly by loading the engine to achieve optimal loading conditions and yield a quicker recharge. The charge preserve strategy had the best results when compared to the corporate average fuel economy 2025 standards that regulate solely criteria emissions. The nitrogen oxides emissions of a Max Depletion strategy were higher than the standard by 200%. The charge preserve strategy decreased Nitrogen oxides by 41% greenhouse gas emissions from a charge preserve strategy, however can see an increase up to 15% and a 2% decrease in fuel economy was observed.

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