Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - QUIET (QUalifying and Implementing a user-centric designed and EfficienT electric vehicle)

Teaser

QUIET aims at developing an improved and energy efficient electric vehicle with increased driving range under real world driving conditions. This is achieved by exploiting the synergies of a technology portfolio in the areas of: user centric design with enhanced passenger...

Summary

QUIET aims at developing an improved and energy efficient electric vehicle with increased driving range under real world driving conditions. This is achieved by exploiting the synergies of a technology portfolio in the areas of: user centric design with enhanced passenger comfort and safety, lightweight materials with enhanced thermal insulation properties, and optimised vehicle energy management.
The developed technologies will be integrated and qualified in a Honda B-segment electric vehicle validator enabling a reduction in energy needed for cooling and heating the cabin of an electric vehicle under different driving conditions, by at least 30 % compared to the Honda baseline 2017. Additionally, a weight reduction of about 20 % of vehicle components (e.g. doors, windshields, seats, heating and air conditioning) is also addressed. These efforts will finally lead to a minimum of 25 % driving range increase under both hot (+40 °C) and cold (-10 °C) weather conditions.

Work performed

WP1: The vehicle platform data acquisition of the demonstrator was the starting point of the QUIET project. The baseline system layouts and specifications, as well as the foreseen principals behind the final evaluation were summarized in deliverable D1.1.
To find improvement potentials of the Honda Fit EV the analysis of the potential of various innovations was performed by using mathematical equations and 1D models of the overall vehicle system. The analyses of the various innovations were submitted as deliverable D1.2.
WP2: Within the reporting period a comprehensive overview of subjective and objective methods of thermal comfort assessment in vehicles was elaborated focussing on individual user needs in consideration of gender and aging society aspects. Global and local thermal comfort targets for vehicles were defined to support the comfort rating of upcoming models and tests, which are planned to be conducted by the project partners within the QUIET project. The aggregated outcomes were submitted as deliverable D2.1 dealing with comfort specifications for the QUIET demonstrator vehicle (Honda Fit EV) with additional suggestions concerning future research efforts on the thermal comfort assessment topics.
WP3: The focus in WP3 is put on lightweight glazing for windows, as well as on light metals like aluminium or magnesium for seat components. Possible windshield and window suppliers were identified, the most promising windshield concept has been chosen and it has been ordered from the most suitable supplier. Furthermore, a demonstrator seat with improved weight and thermal properties was investigated. The substitution of several steel parts by aluminium and the usage of expanded polypropylene inserts in foam enables an expected weight reduction of about 16.9% for the whole seat. A virtual test of strength of the lightweight seat structure was performed. All data and learned lessons were documented in D3.1.
WP4: The focus in WP4 was on detailed analysis and assessment of the present status of the donator vehicle (Honda FIT EV) and derivation of reasonable options for re-design of the vehicle thermal management system (VTMS). Extensive test incl. data analysis and assessment were done for the entire vehicle, the passenger compartment and single components like heat exchangers, HVAC blower, AC compressor and existing cooling circuits. Additionally, development, layout, design and first simulations of a new HVAC / VTMS incl. heat pump, and the choice of suited components were done. An investigation of the donator vehicle geometrical situation, for later integration of the new VTMS system was performed as well.
WP5: WP5 is the final step in QUIET. At the first phase of this WP, a Honda Fit EV car was prepared for conversion into the QUIET demonstrator vehicle. Deliverable D5.1 documents the preparation of the vehicle itself and the organisational steps to ensure a smooth integration of the novel solutions.
As D5.4 will be a joint activity of JRC and HRE, is was necessary to perform a lab correlation between both chassis dyno laboratories.
WP6: To ensure the widest possible impact and wide-spread dissemination of the QUIET project a dissemination and communication strategy were defined and made available as deliverable D6.1. A public webpage (www.quiet-project.eu) was put online by the end of February 2018. The QUIET website and the created corporate identity ran under the timely completed deliverable D6.2 (Project website content and corporate identity). The created deliverable D6.3 deals with the elaboration of an initial market analysis and with the definition and coordination of a business plan to guide the exploitation of the QUIET research results.
WP7: The project management comprises organising the interaction between and within WPs as well as the administrative management of the project (e.g. communicating with the European Commission (EC) or reporting, etc.) to ensure a smooth flow of the project processes and steps.

Final results

QUIET will provide a series of breakthrough technologies that enable lowering the energy consumption for heating and cooling while reducing the weight of the entire electric vehicle validation platform, resulting in an electric driving range increased by 25 %. The expected results and envisaged highlights are:
• Implementing an innovative air conditioning system based on the refrigerant R290 (propane), that has a significantly lower global warming potential compared to the standard refrigerant R134a.
• The heating of the vehicle can also be done by the air conditioning system working in heat pump operation mode combined with a thermal storage system.
• Infrared heating panels in the near field of the passengers enhance thermal comfort and reduce heat-up times by 15 %, and therefore the energy consumption.
• The internal structures of the seats will be redesigned and manufactured from lightweight materials like aluminium or magnesium.
• Vehicle doors will be manufactured by using a combination of glass- or carbon-fibre composite materials with a novel aluminium-hybrid foam. The weight of the doors will be reduced by 20 %.
• A user-centric designed thermal and energy management will be developed and implemented in the Honda validator vehicle.
• Development of an HMI which is specialised on EVs and which allows the user to interact with the user-centric designed thermal- and energy management.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.quiet-project.eu.