On the Hybridization of Microcars with Hybrid UltraCapacitors and Li-Ion Batteries Storage Systems

Fernando Ortenzi, Natascia Andrenacci, Manlio Pasquali and Carlo Villante
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Fernando Ortenzi: ENEA—Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00134 Rome, Italy
Natascia Andrenacci: ENEA—Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00134 Rome, Italy
Manlio Pasquali: ENEA—Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00134 Rome, Italy
Carlo Villante: CITraMS—Center for Transportation and Sustainable Mobility, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: The objective proposed by the EU to drastically reduce vehicular CO 2 emission for the years up to 2030 requires an increase of propulsion systems’ efficiency, and accordingly, the improvement their technology. Hybrid electric vehicles could have a chance of achieving this, by recovering energy during braking phases, running in pure electric mode and allowing the internal combustion engine to operate under better efficiency conditions, while maintaining traditionally expected vehicle performances (mileage, weight, available on-board volume, etc.). The energy storage systems for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have different requirements than those designed for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs); high specific power is normally the most critical issue. Using Li-ion Batteries (LiBs) in the designing of on-board Energy Storage Systems (ESS) based only on power specifications gives an ESS with an energy capacity which is sufficient for vehicle requirements. The highest specific power LiBs are therefore chosen among those technologically available. All this leads to an ESS design that is strongly stressed over time, because current output is very high and very rapidly varies, during both traction and regeneration phases. The resulting efficiency of the ESS is correspondingly lowered, and LiBs lifetime can be relevantly affected. Such a problem can be overcome by adopting hybrid storage systems, coupling LiBs and UltraCapacitors (UCs); by properly dimensioning and controlling the ESS’ components, in fact, the current output of the batteries can be reduced and smoothed, using UCs during transients. In this paper, a simulation model, calibrated and validated on an engine testbed, has been used to evaluate the performances of a hybrid storage HEV microcar under different operative conditions (driving cycles, environment temperature and ESS State of Charge). Results show that the hybridization of the powertrain may reduce fuel consumption by up to 27%, while LiBs lifetime may be more than doubled.

Keywords: microcars; hybrid vehicles; hybrid storage; Li-Ion Battery; UltraCapacitors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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