This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
A Fuel Economy Evaluation of a Safety Compliant Single Passenger Vehicle
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The Nexus vehicle was designed and built for Transport Canada at the University of Saskatchewan to demonstrate that a safety compliant single passenger commuter vehicle could attain extremely low fuel consumption rates at modest highway speeds.
Experimentally determined steady state fuel consumption rates of the Nexus prototype ranged from 1.6 L/100 km at 61 km/hr up to 2.8 L/100 km at 121 km/hr. Fuel consumption rates for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) driving cycle tests were 4.5 L/100 km for the SAE Urban cycle and 2.0 L/100 km for the SAE Interstate 55 cycle. The efficiency of the power train was determined using a laboratory dynamometer, enabling the road test results to be compared to the results from an energy and performance simulation program. Predicted fuel economy was in good agreement with that determined experimentally. Widespread use of single passenger commuter vehicles would substantially reduce current transportation energy consumption.
Authors
Topic
Citation
Johnston, R., Hertz, P., and Krause, A., "A Fuel Economy Evaluation of a Safety Compliant Single Passenger Vehicle," SAE Technical Paper 921664, 1992, https://doi.org/10.4271/921664.Also In
References
- Gerwing, D.H. Hertz, P.B. “Design of ‘NEXUS’ Vehicle,” Transport Canada Contract Report No. OSV83-0060 Vehicle Research Group, Univ. of Saskatchewan 1984
- Swanson Analysis Systems Inc. “Engineering Analysis Finite Element Computer Program,” ANSYS Houston PA
- Zub, R.W. “A Computer Program (VEHSIM) For Vehicle Fuel Economy and Performance Simulation,” U.S. Dept. Of Transport Report No. DOT-HS-806-037 1981
- Carr, G. W. “Aerodynamics as a Means to Fuel Economy,” Function Vs Appearance in Vehicle Design Inst. of Mechanical Engineers Conference Publications 0-85298393X 1977
- Gerwing, D.H. McEachern, R.A. Retzlaff, R.N. “Construction of ‘Nexus’ Vehicle,” Transport Canada Contract Report No. OST84-00486 Vehicle Research Group, Univ. of Saskatchewan 1984
- Johnston, R.T. “An Energy Evaluation of The Nexus Vehicle,” Transport Canada Contract Report No. T8080-6-0572/01ST 1987
- Beaudry, D.L. Watson, L.G. Hertz, P.B. “Use of Controlled Plastic Deformation for Vehicle Deceleration in Crash Conditions,” ASME, AMD 105 Book No. H00502 December 1989
- Watson, L.G. Beaudry, D.L. Hertz, P.B. “Design of a Crash Attenuation System for a Lightweight Commuter Car,” Paper No. 89-2A-W-018 12th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles Gothenburg, Sweden May 1989
- Beaudry, D.L. Watson, L.G. Hertz, P.B. “The Application of Finite Element Modeling in the design of a Crash Attenuation System for Lightweight Commuter Car,” Forth International ANSYS Conference Proceedings Pittsburgh May 1989
- Remenda, B.A.P Hertz, P.B. Krause, A.E. “Vehicle Coast-Down Resistance Analysis Under Windy and Grade-Variable Conditions,” SAE Transactions 890371 1989
- Buckley, F.T. “Analysis of Coast-Down Data to Assess Aerodynamic Drag Reduction on Full-Scale Tractor-Trailer Trucks in a Windy Environment,” SAE Paper No. 760850 1976
- Blackmore D.R. Thomas A. Fuel Economy of the Gasoline Engine The MacMillan Press 1977
- Remenda, B. Hertz, P.B. Krause, A.E. “Comparison, Selection, and Modelling of a Small Powerplant for the Nexus Commuter Vehicle,” SAE Paper No. 88-0270 1988