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The “Space Bus” - Performance, Major Components, and Implications for Engineered Hybrid Drive Systems for Medium and Heavy Hybrid Vehicles
Technical Paper
1999-01-3725
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
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English
Abstract
The Hybrid Electric Transit Bus (HETB) was dubbed “Space Bus” by the technicians of the Cleveland Regional Transit Authority because of NASA involvement. Developed as a proof of concept test bed, the HETB has proven the use of ultra-capacitors as a viable energy storage device. In the process, a cost-effective engineered hybrid drive system was also developed. The HETB made its debut at the 1997 SAE Truck and Bus Conference in Cleveland. After the show, the HETB was prepared to complete the first round of proving ground testing under the scrutiny of NASA scientists. According to a NASA technical memorandum, published in January 1999, this series hybrid vehicle with ultra-capacitors produced 21.2% fuel savings for the “white book” central business district drive cycle over a traditional diesel powered vehicle.[1]
To prove the viability of the heavy series hybrid with ultra-capacitor storage, the team, lead by NASA scientists, elected to retrofit a veteran 40-foot Flxible transit coach rather than construct an optimized purpose built unit. This should provide transit authority operators a direct performance comparison of test results to their own on the road experience with similar units.
This paper presents the performance, major component features, and implications for an engineered hybrid drive system derived from the Space Bus. This system can become a cost-effective alternative drive for medium and heavy hybrid vehicles. These would include, transit buses, school buses, delivery vans and similar vehicles used in frequent start/stop route service. The system as designed can also be supplied as a retrofit kit for converting existing transit buses to efficient hybrid power.
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Citation
Palumbo, A., "The “Space Bus” - Performance, Major Components, and Implications for Engineered Hybrid Drive Systems for Medium and Heavy Hybrid Vehicles," SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-3725, 1999, https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-3725.Also In
References
- Brown, Jeffery C Eichenberg Dennis Thompson William K. “Baseline Testing of the Hybrid Electric Transit Bus” NASA Technical Memorandum 1999-208890 January 1999
- Lev, Frank “Optimal Hybrid Electric Power train for Heavy Vehicles and Buses” Tavrima Limited October 1999
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- Zierhut, Kurt “Wye/ Delta in Perspective” Modern Machine Shop January 1999
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- Viterna, Larry. A. “Hybrid Electric Transit Bus” Automotive Engineering International November 1998
- Mosely, Patrick T. “High-Rate, Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries - Can They Be suitable for Hybrid Electric Vehicles?” Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Here and Now TOPTEC New York May 26-27 1999
- Lev, Frank “Optimal Hybrid Electric Power train for Heavy Vehicles and Buses” Tavrima Limited October 1999