| US firm Sakor Technologies has developed a series of hybrid vehicle driveline test systems. The firm is supplying equipment to help General Motors and Tesla Motors develop hybrids and pure-electric vehicles.
The Hybridyne range combines combustion engine and electric motor testing to help carmakers calibrate the performance, efficiency, and durability of hybrid vehicles.
The term “hybrid” covers a broad range of technologies. Some systems use mechanical drivetrains with electrical assist; others are more like a diesel electric system, where the engine runs a generator, to charge a battery system that then drives the vehicle with electric motors. All require more sophisticated testing than standard engines.
Sakor president Randy Beattie said: “Hybridyne is a combination of the firm’s engine testing Dynalab PT system and its electric machine testing Dynalab EM system. Some testing firms are strong in engine testing, others are strong in electric machine testing. They tend not to cross.”
Sakor doesn’t have a customer that is testing the engine and complete drivetrain, at least not yet. “We have customers who are using hybrid electric assist units that are using the system, but not for a diesel,” said Beattie. “We’re also working with BorgWarner, which is planning to test the entire system.”
Dynalab is a data acquisition and control system, designed for handling test cells. It can control the entire cell and test process, not just control the dynamometer, but also things like the air, fuel and cooling systems. It can also communicate with engine ECUs and transmission control modules.
With a hybrid, you need to test both when the motors are driving as well as when they’re absorbing power. Sakor’s dynamometers can run them in both directions. The system can also test plug-in charging systems.
© Automotive Engineer, 2008 |
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