Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Victoria
$116,400.00
Development of Electric Medium-Duty Trucks (e-MDTs) through Model-Based Design and Optimization
FY 2022-23
Summary
Increasing concerns over air pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and volatile petroleum-based fuel prices have led to the development of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). However, the further development and broader applications of BEVs need improved performance, operation range, lower lifecycle costs, and new designs for specific niche markets with unique operation profiles. The medium-duty trucks (MDTs) provide a popular low-cost transport solution used primarily on city roads for carrying tools, supplies, and materials for working crews. The MDT industry is only now emerging with notable progress in BEV development under the more stringent GHG and fuel efficiency regulations. This project will address the critical issues in current BEV development and focus on several critical enabling technologies and design tools to develop new battery-powered electric MDT (e-MDT). Our Clean Transportation Research Team, with extensive experience in electrified vehicle (EV) research, will carry out this work in collaboration with our industrial partner, Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd., specializing in smaller EV production. The collaboration team will introduce, test and improve the methods and processes for optimizing the e-MDTs' powertrain system, critical powertrain component selection/sizing, power control/energy management, and chassis/suspension systems under real-world operating conditions. The research will introduce model-based design and optimization (MBDO) methods and processes for e-MDTs with balanced performance and lifecycle costs. A proof-of-concept vehicle will be built and tested to verify the new design and control optimization tools and results. The joint effort aims to develop advanced e-MDT optimization and control methods validated on market-ready vehicles and provide first-class training to Canada's future clean vehicle specialists and leaders. The program will ensure the continued success of our electrified propulsion technology research/training program and the development of advanced BEV technologies and products at Canadian Electric Vehicles and benefit the Canadian automotive industry.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
576828-2022
Name nom
Dong, Zuomin Z
Department département
Mechanical Engineering
Organization id
7
Institution établissement
University of Victoria
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2022
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
116400
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
512
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Transport equipment
Area of application fr
Matériel de transport
Research subject code
2108
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Aerospace, aeronautical and automotive engineering
Research subject fr
Génie aérospatial, aéronautique et automobile
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Development of Electric Medium-Duty Trucks (e-MDTs) through Model-Based Design and Optimization
Application summary
Increasing concerns over air pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and volatile petroleum-based fuel prices have led to the development of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). However, the further development and broader applications of BEVs need improved performance, operation range, lower lifecycle costs, and new designs for specific niche markets with unique operation profiles. The medium-duty trucks (MDTs) provide a popular low-cost transport solution used primarily on city roads for carrying tools, supplies, and materials for working crews. The MDT industry is only now emerging with notable progress in BEV development under the more stringent GHG and fuel efficiency regulations. This project will address the critical issues in current BEV development and focus on several critical enabling technologies and design tools to develop new battery-powered electric MDT (e-MDT). Our Clean Transportation Research Team, with extensive experience in electrified vehicle (EV) research, will carry out this work in collaboration with our industrial partner, Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd., specializing in smaller EV production. The collaboration team will introduce, test and improve the methods and processes for optimizing the e-MDTs' powertrain system, critical powertrain component selection/sizing, power control/energy management, and chassis/suspension systems under real-world operating conditions. The research will introduce model-based design and optimization (MBDO) methods and processes for e-MDTs with balanced performance and lifecycle costs. A proof-of-concept vehicle will be built and tested to verify the new design and control optimization tools and results. The joint effort aims to develop advanced e-MDT optimization and control methods validated on market-ready vehicles and provide first-class training to Canada's future clean vehicle specialists and leaders. The program will ensure the continued success of our electrified propulsion technology research/training program and the development of advanced BEV technologies and products at Canadian Electric Vehicles and benefit the Canadian automotive industry.
