Claims that a 48V lead-carbon powertrain architecture can help OEMs meet emission requirements of near term next generation vehicles is set to be proven within months.
The ADEPT (advanced diesel-electric powertrain) consortium programme is due to demonstrate its advanced mild hybrid technologies with 48V ‘intelligent electrification’ this September.
It will mark the end of almost three years of development and road and laboratory testing of the technologies in a Ford Focus project demonstrator.
Emission targets are expected to be met via the battery’s high rate partial state-of-charge capability, similar to a supercapacitor, in combination with 48V electrified ancillaries. This architecture will allow a smaller sized engine to reach the same performance as a bigger cc vehicle.
The ADEPT project is led by Ricardo and includes the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium, Controlled Power Technologies, Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies UK Ltd, Ford Motor Company and the University of Nottingham.
The system will deliver near full hybrid-scale diesel fuel efficiency while meeting European exhaust emission regulations by reducing CO2 emissions, say the consortium.
The integration of hybrid and emissions control systems has the potential to deliver up to a 10-12 % reduction in fuel consumption, equivalent to sub-80g/km of CO2 emissions (NEDC), claim ADEPT.
Ricardo estimates that for every kilometre travelled €80 ($88) per gram of CO2 reduction is achievable with the ADEPT technology.
Ricardo Innovations MD Thomas Gutwald, said: “While much development attention is currently focused on full hybrids and battery electric vehicles I firmly believe that the concept of ‘intelligent electrification’ will have an extremely high level of mass market appeal.”
The final results will be presented at LCV2016 on 14-15 September, where the vehicle should be available for ride and drive demonstrations.
