Defining the Hybrid Drive System for the WVU ClearVue Crossover Sport Utility Vehicle

West Virginia University (WVU) is a participant in EcoCAR - The NeXt Challenge, an Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, and General Motors Corporation. During the first year of the competition, the goal of the WVU EcoEvolution Team was to design a novel hybrid-electric powertrain for a 2009 Saturn Vue to increase pump-to-wheels fuel economy, reduce criteria tailpipe emissions and well-to-wheels greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) while maintaining or improving performance and utility. To this end, WVU designed a 2-Mode split-parallel diesel-electric hybrid system. Key elements of the hybrid powertrain include a General Motors 1.3L SDE Turbo Diesel engine, a General Motors Corporation 2-Mode electrically variable transmission (EVT) and an A123 Systems Lithium-Ion battery system. The engine will be fueled on a blend of 20% soy-derived biodiesel and 80% petroleum-derived ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (B20). Emissions control is accomplished by a diesel oxidation catalyst, a catalyzed diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with urea injection. Simulation results using the Powertrain System Analysis Toolkit (PSAT) developed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) indicate a combined cycle fuel economy of 6.2-liter/100 km, (32 mpg) gasoline equivalent, ≤150 g/km well-to-wheels (WTW) greenhouse gas emissions and ≤0.4 kWh/km petroleum energy use while maintaining an 8.0 second 0-60 acceleration time and 680 kg (1500 lb) towing capacity. Passenger capacity, cargo capacity and utility are not sacrificed by addition of the electrical energy storage and hybrid propulsion systems.