Ricardo Forms Strategic Business Unit for Hybrids and EVs
08 September 2008
Engineering firm Ricardo has formed a dedicated global strategic business unit—the Ricardo Global Hybrid Product Group—to focus on hybrid and electric vehicle development.
Since 2000, Ricardo has been responsible for more than one hundred hybrid powertrain and vehicle programs, ranging from simulation and strategy studies and concept developments to numerous product engineering programs. Current research into advanced hybrid technology includes projects with QinetiQ on low cost Lithium-Ion battery technology and with Land Rover on range extended hybrid electric vehicles.
The combined Ricardo hybrid team will cover all aspects of hybrid vehicle engineering, from system architecture definition, power electronics design and advanced energy management and control technologies, to the implementation of the numerous hybrid vehicle sub-systems and electrical ancillaries. It will also be able to leverage the company’s expertise in intelligent by-wire technologies for systems such as steering, braking and chassis control.
The new organization will also be able to utilize the high fuel efficiency, low emissions diesel and gasoline engines, transmission systems and vehicle engineering development methods from the global Ricardo organization. Full access will be available to advanced powertrain and vehicle testing infrastructure including, for example, the battery systems development center currently under construction at the company’s Detroit Technology Campus, and scheduled to open later in 2008. (Earlier post.)
It may be that the electric vehicle or electric hybrid is over priced. The hydraulic and air hybrids should be considered. Electric engine valves can now be implemented and could be cheaper than mechanical valves in mass production, but before then, the energy savings with the use of the valve would pay for their cost faster than any electric hybrid technolgy. Electric valves allow for the immediate implementation of air hybrids without additional motors. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 08 September 2008 at 01:23 PM
@HG
Could you elaborate? Do you mean to say that electromagnetically actuated valves are necessary for the implementation of a hydraulic hybrid or do you mean that the valves would be used to recover energy during down-shifting/deceleration?
Posted by: GreenPlease | 08 September 2008 at 07:51 PM
It is interesting how some people think that they can see things that all others miss. As if they are the only ones with clear vision. This is ego. There are many others with greater training and more experience actually doing these things. Arm chair quarterbacking is just that. Easy to do, but does little good.
Posted by: sjc | 10 September 2008 at 12:23 AM