For the organisers of the RAC Future Car Challenge (FCC) there are two main technical challenges. First, to appreciate fully the extensive development in new and low-energy automotive engineering. Second, to measure accurately the energy consumed by vehicles taking part – to establish consistent measurement protocols for all entrants and provide clear and meaningful results for interested parties, including the buying public. The organisers are pleased to have the extensive and knowledgeable resources of Imperial College London to provide the expertise and neutral input to the event's regulations, measurement procedures and results analysis. This will build on the high level of success in energy measurement on the 2010 event and match the considerable pace of low-energy vehicle development.
Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas, Dr David Howey, Dr Robin North and Clemens Lorf, from the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London, leaders in electric and hybrid vehicle research, comprise the elected Technical Team of the RAC Future Car Challenge and will work closely with the event’s Technical Panel and the event organisers.
At a special FCC Technical Seminar held at Imperial College London recently, interested entrants had the opportunity to learn of the role of the college and understand the measuring procedure and planned results analysis. They were also able to raise questions concerning the measurement of energy consumed. The organisers appreciate that the fitting of the bespoke FCC Data-logger, produced for the event by General Engine Managements System Ltd (GEMS), is not always straightforward, especially in pre-production prototype/development vehicles. In addition, members of the college explained ongoing development work to accurately measure fuel consumption via vehicle CO2 emissions, which will be trialled during this year’s event on a number of low CO2 internal combustion engined cars.
Unlike in 2010, all results of the FCC will be made public immediately following the event. Post event, detailed analysis will be produced by the college in conjunction with the RAC Foundation, a sponsor of the FCC, which will provide interesting energy/model comparisons.
Speaking at the seminar, Dr Ricardo Martinez-Botas said: "Measuring energy use across a range of different vehicles is technically quite straightforward but does require the use of sophisticated sensors and data-logging equipment. We shall be using two different data-loggers specially produced by General Engine Managements System. Pure electric vehicles will be fitted with a FCC DA-EV data-logger, essentially measuring current and voltage, and a GPS unit. Other vehicles will use a FCC DA1 OBD2 data-logger, to measure (via a CAN-bus interface), fuel flow, battery voltage and current, and will also be fitted with a GPS unit. We also reserve the right to undertake random checks on energy consumption using other methods – to validate the CAN-bus data.
"The FCC Data-loggers will be removed at the finish, the information downloaded and the electrical and/or fuel energy consumed by each vehicle will be calculated and made public. This data will determine the winners of each of the categories."
Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee and the FCC Technical Panel, says: "We want the measurement of energy used to be done as fairly and accurately as possible so that members of the public receive useful and reliable information. Also, this will generate a standard database for future use.
"Given the variety of vehicles – electric, hybrid, hydrogen and low CO2 internal combustion – this represents a considerable technical challenge. We are grateful to Ricardo and his team at Imperial College London, which has undertaken extensive behind-the-scenes work to ensure accurate measurement of energy used."
At the seminar, it was agreed that entrants of vehicles taking part in the event would be supplied with the necessary FCC data-loggers and sensors etc. six to eight weeks prior to the start – thus allowing time for any fitting problems to be overcome and for the accuracy of the data to be validated.
Work is also ongoing to fit the FCC Data-loggers with GPRS (general packet radio service) to enable real-time tracking of the vehicles and view live, via the event website, the energy being consumed independently on each vehicle.
Compared to 2010, there have been some important changes to the regulations. Prototype vehicles will be recognised and receive awards separate to those of production types and the vehicle energy type categories have been revised to:
1. Pure Electric (EV)
2. Extended-Range/Plug-In Electric (E-REV, PHEV)
3. Hybrid (HV, HEV)
4. Hydrogen (HFEV)
5. Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) - up to 110g/km CO2 emission fuelled by any legal means
Last year’s entry list for the RAC Future Car Challenge included prototypes and pre-production vehicles from manufacturers such as Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall, BMW, Skoda and Volkswagen, as well as current production cars offering the highest levels of efficiency regardless of their powertrain.
For 2011 the total number of entries permitted has been increased to 90 and the diversity of the entry list has been recognised by the organisers with a range of awards in over 20 different vehicle categories. The overall winner will be the entrant of the vehicle that uses the least amount of energy over the route.
The RAC Future Car Challenge 2011, which takes place this year on Saturday 5 November, is open to electric, hybrid, hydrogen and low-emission internal combustion engine cars and light-commercial vehicles. The challenge requires entrants to drive a 60-mile route from Brighton to London using the least amount of energy. The inaugural event last year was a huge success and achieved its aim of publicly showcasing the very latest low-energy vehicles.
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