Bosch and PSA present first two OpEneR prototypes for increased range of electric drive vehicles
13 July 2013
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| OpEneR prototype at RIVE2013 in Alès. Click to enlarge. |
Bosch, PSA Peugeot Citroën and partners recently presented the first two Optimal Energy Consumption and Recovery solution (OpEneR) prototypes. OpEneR is a European research project under the Seventh Framework Programme designed to increase the range of future hybrid and electric vehicles by optimizing energy management.
Launched in 2011, OpEneR is developing new driving strategies and driver assistance systems that significantly increase the efficiency, driving range, and safety of electric vehicles without increasing battery size—and thus also by limiting battery price and charging time. This is achieved by merging data from on-board and off-board sources. A particular focus lies on an optimal cooperation between the electric drivetrain and the regenerative braking system, supported by data from radar, video, satellite navigation, car-to-infrastructure and car-to-car systems.
New controller software algorithms merge data from the range of on-board and off-board sources to provide timely and effective driver guidance through enhanced vehicle dashboard displays. This advanced support system allows the drivers consistently to adapt their route and driving style in order to achieve the best energy efficiency and thus electrical driving range, and to arrive at their chosen destination as quickly and safely as practically possible.
A central goal of OpEneR is the investigation of an efficient overall energy manager that uses information from underlying subsystems to generate optimal driving and operation strategies. The strategies will vary from time-optimized up to range-maximized.
Furthermore, optimized vehicle deceleration profiles for best energy recuperation and safety will be investigated. An enhanced simulation tool chain will be built up to allow both the virtual development and the validation of new OpEneR Technologies, with respect to energy efficiency, enhanced HMI concepts and safety. Radar sensors and video cameras will be used to monitor vehicle surroundings, define smooth driving strategies, plan driving corridors, support lane keeping, and to detect road signs and objects.
Among the drivetrain technologies in the OpEneR prototypes are:
An electric powertrain based on two e-machines that deliver four-wheel drive. This allows motorists to choose between front or rear wheel drive depending on driving and road conditions.
A new-generation Stop & Start system that enables freewheeling.
An ESP electronic stability program that makes it possible to recover energy when braking and recharge the battery, along with the iBooster, which creates more vacuum-free brake pressure.
To test and validate the project’s performance, several thousand kilometers were driven using two prototypes built on a Peugeot 3008 platform.
OpEneR responds to the European Commission’s Green Cars initiative, which brings together partners from industry and the academic community. Today, five partners are involved in the OpEneR research project: Bosch, AVL List and PSA Peugeot Citroën for manufacturers and the Karlsruhe Research Centre in Germany and the Galician Automotive Technology Centre (CTAG) for university research institutions.
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