Engineering news
The first results of a pioneering electric vehicle (EV) testing programme in Coventry and Birmingham have been published.
The project, known as the Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators (Cabled), is backed by the Technology Strategy Board to the tune of £25 million. The results for the first quarter of the trial, which has used more than 20 Mitsubishi electric cars, are now available.
The vehicles on the road in Birmingham and Coventry are being used by engineers to log data on driver behaviour to help understand how the cars are driven, which should help in developing the right kind of EV infrastructure.
The findings from the trials will help distributors and generators of electricity to understand the demands on the grid, and councils to understand where charging posts are required and how to charge for electricity. Additionally, manufacturers such as Mitsubishi should learn how the cars are used and whether their range is adequate given current infrastructure.
Some of the key findings of the report so far are that EV drivers use their cars like the typical British driver. The majority of journeys are less than five miles, when conventional car engines are at their most polluting, and catalytic converters least effective.
Average daily mileage is 23 miles, well within the Mitsubishi EV’s 80 mile range. The study has found that drivers use the entire speed range of the car, showing they are happy to drive at motorway speeds when required.
The vehicles were driven in temperatures as low as -10u02daC throughout the winter period. There was a drop-off in usage at very low temperatures, likely to be the result of reduced car usage during extremely cold weather. Vehicles were parked for 97% of the time, typically overnight and during school hours, allowing lengthy battery-charging periods at home and work.
Led by engineering consultancy Arup, Cabled is the largest of eight consortia from across the UK participating in the TSB-backed programme. It is the first to begin vehicle trials. Data is being collected and analysed by Aston University. Regional Development Agency Advantage West Midlands has invested £2.5million in the project, ensuring the region’s participation in the competition.
Neil Butcher, Arup’s project leader at the Cabled consortium, said: “Vehicles are quick and easy to plug in and this becomes a habit, even if the battery is still mostly full; so vehicles are usually fully charged at the start of the day.
“With the mass usage of vehicles, we will need to carefully consider how energy tariffs can be used to promote overnight charging and smooth demands on the grid.”
Brian Price of Aston University commented: “Collecting real-world usage of electric vehicles through our satellite mapping and analysis has been essential in understanding actual demands and requirements of EV vehicles for consumers. The journey data gathered is already showing that the current generation of ultra low carbon vehicles are cheap to run as well as being comparable to petrol and diesel vehicles for speed, ease of use and daily journey distance; using less than 30% of total charge in typical daily use.
“The next phase of the study will allow us to map out an optimal charging point network to further extend range and improve the convenience of electric cars.”
Five other manufacturers within Cabled will roll out vehicles in 2010, including Mercedes Benz’s smart marque, Tata, Jaguar Land Rover, LTI and Microcab industries.
Over the course of the project, the consortium will test 110 vehicles. The project will continue for the rest of the year.