Review of the Research Program of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles Fifth Report (1999) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-10
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At the same time, these vehicles must be comparable in terms of performance, size, utility, and cost of ownership and operation and meet or exceed federal safety and emissions requirements. The intent of the PNGV program is to develop concept vehicles by 2000 and production prototype vehicles by 2004.1 In this report, the committee again examines the overall adequacy and balance of the PNGV research program to meet the program goals and requirements (i.e., technical objectives, schedules, and rate of progress)
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A number of notable accomplishments have been made for CIDI engines, including the development of a prototype fuel-injection system with desirable operating characteristics, especially in terms of controlling for specific power and noise; regulating vibration and harshness; improving the understanding of fundamental, in-cylinder combustion processes; reducing particulate emissions through fuel modifications; developing a fueling system for dimethyl ether (a possible alternative fuel) ; and developing lean-NOx catalyst systems that have demonstrated promising removal rates.
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From page 3... ...
Now that an automotive integrated power module has been specified, the results of the Navy's power electronic building block program can be modified to meet the unique requirements of PNGV, as the committee recommended in its fourth report. The committee' s concerns that the present cost targets for power electronics and motors may be unrealistic with known and projected technology have yet to be addressed.
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Manufacturing Processes Significant progress was made in the manufacturing processes for vehicles and specific components, including the optimization of methods for light metal castings; the demonstration of a high-volume programmed powder preform process for producing structural composites; modifications of coatings and designs to improve high-speed drilling processes; the demonstration of compressionmolded composite bipolar plates for fuel cells to replace machined graphite plates; and the demonstration of a continuous process for manufacturing fuel-cell membrane-electrode assemblies to replace individual layups. MAJOR TECHNICAL AND COST BARRIERS For the most part, the PNGV's efforts during the past year towards meeting its long-term and short-term objectives have been appropriate and have resulted in very significant achievements.
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From page 5... ...
The committee is concerned that continual changes in standards have placed immense burdens on PNGV's technical development process and its ability to stabilize productive research directions. The capability of the CIDI engine to meet future emissions requirements is uncertain and will undoubtedly require important developments in NOx catalyst technology, particulate trap technology, and power-train sensor and control technology.
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From page 6... ...
A number of issues have cost implications for a near-term 4SDI-powered vehicle including: emission reductions; a less expensive supply of base materials for the manufacture of reduced-mass body/chassis assemblies, as well as new mass-manufacturing processes; mass reductions in the engine/drive/rain and other components; and improvements in air conditioning, power steering, and other accessories to reduce vehicle mass and meet manufacturability requirements. A successful HEV configuration for the 4SDI engine (or for a fuel-cell vehicle)
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Overall, the attention to the fuels issues associated with the PNGV program has increased, but no mechanism has been established to address the fundamental trade-offs between vehicle exhaust emissions and energy efficiency at the government-agency policy level, and long-range strategic issues are not being addressed effectively by the fuels industry or the automobile manufacturers. Cost and Performance of Electrochemical Batteries Meeting the PNGV targets for calendar life and cycle life, but also for specific energy and cost, is in serious jeopardy for both electrochemical battery systems (lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride)
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for the year 2000 concept vehicles, Achieving adequate calendar life and cycle life, as well as safe abuse tolerance under representative operating conditions and low cost, remain major challenges for PNGV' s battery program. The PNGV must put these issues in perspective by (1)
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From page 9... ...
However, the committee believes that potential fuel economy and the high degree of technical maturity of the CIDI engine warrant continued development, especially in light of the uncertainties facing fuel-cell technologies. In addition, extensive markets in Europe and Asia for high fuel-economy vehicles offer an opportunity to improve the fuel economy and reduce emissions worldwide.
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From page 10... ...
The federal government agencies involved in the PNGV program should review how future emissions requirements (especially NOx and particulates) , fuel economy, and carbon dioxide emissions, as well as fuel quality, will affect the choice of the compression-ignition direct-injection engine as the most promising short-term combustion engine technology; a program plan that responds to that assessment should be developed.
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