Progress review of US-China joint research on advanced technologies for plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The United States and China are the world’s largest automobile markets and oil consumers, and both face a severe challenge to conserve energy and reduce tailpipe emissions. Thus, both countries urgently need to transform conventional internal combustion engines to electrified powertrains. Targeting the advanced core technologies of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), a joint research collaboration between China and the US, called the “Clean Vehicle Consortium” (CVC), was set up in 2010. Six years of collaboration on PEV technologies has resulted in significant progress in three technical areas. Based on CVC publications, we review herein the progress made by the CVC research efforts on three key advanced PEV technologies. This includes the development of a safe battery with an energy density of 260 W h kg−1 and a systematic method for designing safe traction battery systems. Thus, a breakthrough in high power density and efficient traction motor systems has occurred. In addition to discussing advanced electric-drive powertrains, we also discuss global energy management strategies that aim to improve PEV energy efficiency. This discussion covers scientific and comprehensive analysis methods to analyze energy systems, which include cost-benefit analyses of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, life-cycle assessments for evaluating vehicle emissions, and PEV-ownership projections.