Steam and Oxyhydrogen Addition Influence on Energy Usage by Range Extender—Battery Electric Vehicles

Andrzej Łebkowski

doi:10.3390/en11092403

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to illustrate the benefits of the influence of the steam and oxyhydrogen gas (HHO) on the composition of emitted exhaust gases and energy usage of operating the internal combustion engine (ICE) that drives a generator-powered battery electric vehicle (BEV). The employed internal combustion generating sets can be used as trailer mounted electric energy sources allowing one to increase the range of BEV vehicles, mainly during long distance travel between cities. The basic configurations of hybrid and electric propulsion systems used in a given Electric Vehicles (xEV) includes all types of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (xHEV) and Battery Electric Vehicles (xBEV), which are discussed. Using the data collected during traction tests in real road traffic (an electric car with a trailer range extender (RE) fitted with ICE generators (5 kW petrol, 6.5 kW diesel), a mathematical model was developed in the Modelica package. The elaborated mathematical model takes into account the dynamic loads acting on the set of vehicles in motion and the electric drive system assisted by the work of RE. Conducted tests with steam and HHO additives for ICE have shown reduced (5–10%) fuel consumption and emissions (3–19%) of harmful gases into the atmosphere.

Highlights

Recent rapid intensification of climate change has motivated governments to discuss the possibility of introducing renewable energy sources in the transport sector
Other proposals involve the use of electric drive systems [5,6,7,8,9,10] supported by an internal combustion engine (ICE) [11], fuel cells [12,13], supercapacitors [14], hydraulic [15] or pneumatic systems, as well as various types of electric batteries [16] with the possibility of charging them (Figure 1)
On the basis of real traction tests of a set of vehicles consisting of an electric car and a trailer with

Summary

Introduction

Recent rapid intensification of climate change has motivated governments to discuss the possibility of introducing renewable energy sources in the transport sector. One of the theories claims that greenhouse gases emitted largely by transport are responsible for global warming and smog in cities [1] On this basis, far-reaching steps have been taken to limit the emission of toxic substances by vehicles used in road transport [2]. Other proposals involve the use of electric drive systems [5,6,7,8,9,10] supported by an internal combustion engine (ICE) (a hybrid electric vehicle or HEV) [11], fuel cells (fuel cell electric vehicles or FCEVs) [12,13], supercapacitors [14], hydraulic [15] or pneumatic systems, as well as various types of electric batteries [16] with the possibility of charging them (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or PHEVs) (Figure 1) The purpose of these technologies is to increase the range of vehicles while simultaneously minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. The impact analysis of using hybrid electric-combustion drive systems on the pollutants emitted by the vehicle has been presented in [17,18,19]

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Results

Conclusion