VW Golf Research Articles

The Migration Dilemma of the Younger Generation from the Perspective of Wage Purchasing Power

The purpose of the article. The aim of the article is to determine whether there is a need to differentiate between countries in terms of the amount of aid they provide for the return of their citizens, and in which of the European countries a person can save the most and build up wealth in the fastest way.
 Methodology. The study is based on historical data from 2016 to 2021 on average salaries, average cost of living, average price per square meter of housing in a country’s capital and the average price of a VW Golf IV car in 37 European countries.
 Results of the research. In the general view of the study presented below, the countries to which economic migration can bring the most benefits are Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Denmark. On the other hand, countries that may not meet economic needs include North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania. One can save the fastest per square meter of housing in Belgium, Iceland, and Switzerland. The fastest way for people to save money for a car is available in Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Great Britain.

Cumulative Emissions of CO2 for Electric and Combustion Cars: A Case Study on Specific Models

This work includes calculations of the cumulative CO2 emissions of two comparable cars—the VW Golf VII—one with a combustion engine and the other with an electric motor. Calculation of CO2 emissions was performed, taking into account the stages of production, utilization and use of the above-mentioned vehicles. For the use phase, it was assumed that the total mileage of the car will be 150,000 km over 10 years. For the electric vehicle, calculations were made assuming five different sources of electricity (from coal only, from natural gas only, from PV and wind turbines, an average mix of European power sources and an average mix of Polish power sources; W1–W5 designations, respectively). For individual sources of electricity, cumulative CO2 emissions were taken into account, that is, resulting both from the production of electricity and the use of the resources (for example, technical service per 1 kWh of electricity produced). The obtained results of the analysis show that for the adopted assumptions regarding operation, for variants W2–W5, the use of an electric car results in lower cumulative CO2 emission than a the use of a combustion car. For a combustion car, the value was 37,000 kg-CO2, and for an electric car, depending on the variant, the value was 43, 31, 16, 23 and 34 thousand kg-CO2 for variants W1 to W5, respectively. Based on the emissions results obtained for individual stages of the use of selected vehicles, a comparative analysis of cumulative CO2 emissions was performed. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether the replacement of an existing combustion car (that has already been manufactured; therefore, this part of the analysis does not include CO2 emissions in the production stage) with a new electric car, which has to be manufactured, therefore associated with additional CO2 emissions, would reduce cumulative CO2 emissions. Considering three adopted average annual car mileages (3000, 7500 and 15,000 km) and the previously described power options (W1–W5), we sought an answer as to whether the use of a new electric car would be burdened with lower cumulative CO2 emissions. In this case we assumed an analysis time of 15 years. For the worst variant from the point of view of CO2 emissions (W1, electricity from coal power sources only), further use of a combustion car is associated with lower cumulative CO2 emissions than the purchase of a new electric car over the entire analyzed period of 15 years. In turn, for the most advantageous variant (W3, electricity from PV or wind power sources) with an annual mileage of 3000 km, the purchase of a new electric car results in higher cumulative CO2 emissions throughout the analyzed period, whereas for an annual milage of 7500 or 15,000 km, replacing the car with an electric car “pays back” in terms of cumulative CO2 emissions after 8.5 or 4 years, respectively.

Особенности диагностирования рулевого управления автомобилей

Existing methods of diagnosing steering can be characterized by low efficiency. For various reasons, both declarative and actual (supported by the equipment) methods, as a rule, have low accuracy and inability to localize faults. The car's built-in diagnostics cannot affect the situation due to the small number of sensors in the steering system. The reasons for the low accuracy of the methods include design features, low availability of components (low maintainability). Difficulties in localization of malfunctions are caused by the structural scheme which is characterized by parallel - consecutive construction. The parameters of diagnostic methods are analyzed, the proposed method is based on the structure of the steering, in the implementation of which test effects are applied to the steered wheels. In total it is necessary to carry out three measurements of backlashes and as a result of mathematical processing of results it becomes possible to localize malfunction in three links of consecutive elements of the steering mechanism or a steering drive. In accordance with this approach, steering is considered as a set of three structures - parallel and two sequential. Rack and pinion steering was used as a model. Here, the parallel structure includes elements of the steering linkage: swing arm, left and right; steering rod, left and right; steering rack - left and right hinges. The sequential structure - left, includes a swing arm, left; steering rod, left; steering rack hinge, left; steering gear, steering shaft, steering wheel. Accordingly, the sequential structure of the right includes similar elements with the attribute "right". The structure of the steering play is considered in a similar way. As a result, it becomes possible to obtain a transformed system of three algebraic equations connecting clearances in three groups of mates and backlashes in parallel and two sequential steering structures. To measure the backlash, the turntables of the BOSCH FWA 4410 stand were used; in another version, the wheels were hung out. As a result of tests carried out on VW GOLF, VW PASSAT and RENAULT 25 vehicles with significant mileage, data was obtained indicating the need for technical interventions on localized groups of interfaces.

Impact of Diethyl Ether/Rapeseed Oil Blends on Performance and Emissions of a Light-Duty Diesel Vehicle

This article presents results of experimental study of diesel, rapeseed oil and three different blends of 10%, 20% and 30% diethyl ether addition to rapeseed oil, tested on VW Golf vehicle on chassis dynamometer Mustang MD-1750. Fuel consumption and emission tests were conducted at different testing conditions: idling, 50 km/h, 90 km/h, as also IM-240 cycle. The analysis of obtained results have shown reduction of engine power by 6.2%–17.3% and increase of fuel consumption by 0.6%–15.5% (based on testing conditions) for all blends based on DEE addition compared to RO, demonstrating better perspectives for low level blends. Emission tests have shown decrease of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for all blends with DEE content in almost all testing conditions and also slight increase of carbon monoxides and carbon dioxides compared to rapeseed oil. Largest decrease of NOx was observed during 90 km/h and cycle IM-240 reaching almost 24% reduction for 20DEE and 30DEE in comparison to neat RO.

Experimental Investigation of Automotive Vehicle Transient Aerodynamics with a Reduced-Scale Moving-Model Crosswind Facility

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Automotive vehicles operate in complex, transient aerodynamic conditions that can potentially influence their operational efficiency, performance and safety. A moving-model facility combined with a wind-tunnel is an experimental methodology that can be utilized to model some of these transient aerodynamic conditions. This experimental methodology is an alternative to wind-tunnel experiments with additional crosswind generators or actively yawing models, and has the added benefit of modelling the correct relative motion between the vehicle and the ground/infrastructure. Experiments using a <i>VW Golf 7</i> were performed with a 1:10 scale model at the moving-model facility at DLR, Göttingen and a full-scale, operational vehicle at the BMW Ascheim side-wind facility. Successful functionality of the newly developed automotive-vehicle configuration of the moving-model facility - including the side wind-tunnel operation, rotating wheels in contact with the ground, and data-acquisition on-board the moving model - was achieved. Direct comparison of transient pressure at 24 locations across the front and rear bumpers and over the centerline of the vehicles show relatively good agreement between the two methodologies; establishing the moving-model facility as a viable reduced-scale methodology for investigating transient aerodynamics of automotive vehicles. Analysis of the time-resolved pressure measurements provides insight into the sensitivity of the surface pressure to transient crosswind; with indications that transient characteristics can only be captured with transient modelling of the crosswind-vehicle interaction.</div></div>

Nonlinear Model Predictive Path-Following Control for Highly Automated Driving

Abstract Within the scope of highly automated driving, steering a vehicle autonomously along a pre-specified geometric reference path is an important control task. In this article we present an implementation of model predictive path-following control for a modified VW Golf VII series vehicle. This approach allows the assignment of the reference motion and the computation of inputs to track the reference simultaneously at the runtime of the controller, while respecting actuator and state constraints. In contrast to trajectory tracking, the time evolution along the path is not fixed a priori. It can be seen as a degree of freedom to be determined by the controller. This allows the controller to adapt the vehicle speed to the respective driving situation according to the modeled physical limits of the vehicle. Therefore, a combined longitudinal and lateral vehicle dynamic model is derived firstly. Finally, experimental results are presented for a test scenario to demonstrate the abilities of the approach.

Mathematical Model for Velocity Calculation of Three Types of Vehicles in the Case of Pedestrian Crash

Abstract This paper treats influencing factors in the determination of vehicles speed on the pedestrian crash moment according to pedestrian throw distance and formulates a mathematical model for vehicle speed determination. Vehicle speed is one of the highest causes of accidents. The mathematical model formulation (as the target of this paper) for velocity calculation, in the case of pedestrian accidents, presents great help and guidance to experts of this field when dealing with accident analysis that through accurate determination of this parameter to find other circumstances as close as possible to the technical process of pedestrian accidents. The target of this paper is to define a mathematical model formulation for vehicle velocity calculation in pedestrian crash moment depending on relevant parameters. For the purpose of model formulating, we have selected three cases of real accidents that involved vehicles (“Peugeot 307”, “VW Golf ” and “Mercedes E 220”) with different geometrical parameters of the front profile and pedestrians with different heights and weights. For regression analysis we used “R” and “SPSS” software, which enables the statistical analysis of the data and mathematical model formulation. Also, for analysis of impact of relevant factors, model formulation and model testing have used “Virtual Crash” and “PC Crash” software, which enables pedestrian-vehicle crash simulation using vehicles with real technical characteristics and various pedestrian characteristics. Inductive, comparative, and deductive methods are part of the research methods in this paper.

Eco-rating Methodologies for Private Cars: Driving Cycle Influence

Several environmental vehicle rating tools have been developed in order to promote the purchase and the use of greener cars. However those were developed/applied at a regional/country specific level. There is a need to develop a broader methodology that can be applied in a multi-country perspective for the assessment of the environmental rating of vehicles with alternative types of fuels as well as different types of drivetrain, such as electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell hybrid. The environmental indicators usually relates to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), air pollutants emissions (HC, CO, NOx, PM, SOx) and noise levels. US rating methodology developed by ACEEE is guided by Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), but disregards noise impacts (scores vehicles from zero to 100 (best)). EcoScore Belgian methodology adopts a LCA perspective, disregarding the materials of vehicle impact, but giving some importance to the noise impact (scores from zero to 100(best)). The German Verkehrsclub Deutschland's (VCD) current rating system does not purport to be an LCA, and it has been modified based on evolving views about the importance of various automobile impacts. VCD scores from 0 to 10 (best). It considers impacts in nature both from CO2 (vehicle manufacturer information) and pollutants (European Standards), in human health from pollutants, also considers noise. Australian Green Vehicle Guide (GVG) rating methodology considers only usage stage, giving zero to 10(best) points to GHG and air pollutants, disregarding noise. The overall rating is based on the sum of the air pollution and greenhouse ratings (zero to five star (best)). For the vehicle in-use emissions usually a non-realistic, standard, driving cycle is used and again differs from country to country, despite aiming at representing urban and extra-urban driving.This paper presents the application of the revised methodologies to existent alternative vehicle technologies, pure electric vehicle (Nissan Leaf), gasoline hybrid (Toyota Prius), plug-in hybrid (Toyota Prius), conventional gasoline (VW Beetle TSI), conventional diesel (VW Golf 2.0 Bluemotion), where the urban and extra-urban driving is considered in the same fashion at a multi-country level. Preliminary results of the methodologies rank highly Honda FCX Clarity and Nissan Leaf. Conventional vehicles occupy bottom places in the rankings. The influence of the driving cycles is discussed.

An Approach to an Optimal Design of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines for Battery Electric Vehicles

The described design of a permanent magnet synchronous motor for battery electric vehicles is based on a drive cycle. For a given vehicle a set of operating points of the electric machine can be derived from the cycle. The next step in the design of the traction motor is to find a suitable lamination layout. Common motor design procedures take only a few representative operating points into account. This paper describes an approach which includes a large number of operating points at early stages of the motor design process. It is based on a specialized motor model and an optimization strategy which are described in this paper. As an example a traction motor for the VW Golf CityStromer is designed by using the proposed method.

Emission Data and Costs for Environmental Measures During Laser Joining of Metals

Laser welding and soldering are important joining processes in the automotive industry. Typical examples are the production of the car body of the VW Golf or the automatic gearbox of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Furthermore, there is a general trend to increase the use of lightweight materials (e.g. Mg, Al, alloys), and to combine different metallic materials to produce complex components (e.g. in tailored blanks). In order to ensure good practices with regard to occupational health and safety as well as environmental issues, laser joining processes have to be analyzed in detail. Avoiding and controlling emission products caused by laser processing of metals or metal composites is an important task in this context. Typically, costs for environmental measures represent a significant percentage of the total manufacturing costs related to a laser process. In this work, emission measurements of several laser welding and soldering processes for metal sheets from steel and brass are reported. Different steel grades and surface treatments of the metal sheets have been taken into account: pure, zinc-coated, PTFE-coated, oiled, cold cleaner residues. The hazardous potential of these processes has been assessed by means of analyzing the specific emissions with respect to the relevant threshold limit values (TLVs). Based on the experimental results, the processes have been classified according to measures which are required by environmental legislation. Finally, a cost calculation for measures related to emission capturing is presented. It has been shown that these environmental measures are manageable for all industrial laser processes regarded here, and the costs for these measures remain acceptable, i.e. in many cases below 8 % of the total processing costs. The results are made permanently available in an interactive internet database. Using this database, the planning of appropriate exhaust systems for laser welding and soldering is facilitated significantly.

Aluminium in Innovative Light-Weight Car Design

The main Aluminium applications as state-of-the-art in European cars are presented. The main established Aluminium alloys and their application in automotive parts are presented together with recent developments. Also new studies and innovative multi-material concepts are discussed where Aluminium light-weight solutions are compared with that of other materials, like new steels, magnesium, plastics and composites. In the “SLC” (Super-Light-Car) project these new concepts were tested in a multi-material body-in-white prototype for a VW Golf V car, reaching a 34% weight reduction within a cost increment of 7,8 €/kg saved, with suitable technologies for high volume assembly cycles. In the final SLC concept Aluminium is the material of choice, proving its leading role in innovative light-weighting of cars. Aluminium achieves weight savings of parts up to 50% while maintaining safety and performance in a cost efficient way, competing efficiently with other light-weight materials.

Systematic material selection for the superlight-car’s body-in-white

In the framework of the SuperLight-Car project, a team of the Institut fur Kraftfahrzeuge (ika) of RWTH Aachen University has developed a material selection methodology, which supports an efficient allocation of different materials to individual vehicle body components in the early stage of the development process. The tool is a good resource for the engineer to create first concepts in innovative multi-material design. In the end, the project consortium built up a hardware body-in-white, demonstrating a weight reduction of 37 %, in comparison to a reference body, which was based on the VW Golf V. The original weight saving goal was thus clearly exceeded.

Chemical Characteristics and Oxidative Potential of Particulate Matter Emissions from Gasoline, Diesel, and Biodiesel Cars

Three light-duty vehicles in five different configurations [a Honda Accord operating with diesel with a closed-coupled oxidation catalyst and an underfloor catalyst replaced in some tests with a diesel particle filter (DPF), a Toyota Corolla operating with gasoline, and a VW Golf alternatively operating with petrodiesel or biodiesel] were tested in a dynamometer facility to develop an improved understanding of the factors affecting the toxicity of particulate exhaust emissions. The vehicles were tested using a variety of real-world driving cycles, more than the certification test (New European Driving Cycle). Particle samples were collected and analyzed for elemental and organic carbon (EC and OC, respectively), water soluble and water insoluble organic carbon (WSOC and WISOC, respectively), and inorganic ions, and the emission rates (mg/km) for each vehicle/configuration were determined. A dithiothreitol (DTT) assay was used to assess the oxidative potential of the particulate matter (PM) samples. The DPF-equipped diesel and gasoline vehicles were characterized by the lowest overall PM mass emissions, while the diesel and biodiesel cars produced the most potent exhaust in terms of oxidative activity. When the DPF was fitted on the Honda Accord diesel vehicle, the mass emission rates and distance-based oxidative potential were both decreased by 98%, compared to the original configuration. Correlation analysis showed that the DTT consumption rate was highly associated with WSOC, WISOC, and OC (R = 0.98, 0.93, and 0.94, respectively), consistent with previous findings.

The pedal system for the VW Golf and the VW Touran

The pedal system for the new Golf has a convincingly simple modular design. By using lightweight materials wherever possible and simplifying assembly processes, cost and weight could be reduced considerably in comparison to the previous model.

Resignification and Cultural Re/Production in Japanese Television Commercials

Resignification and Cultural Re/Production in Japanese Television Commercials

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and diesel engine emission (elemental carbon) inside a car and a subway train

Significant concentrations of potentially harmful substances can be present in the interior of vehicles. The main sources of PAHs and elemental carbon (EC) inside a car are likely to be combustion emissions, especially from coal and traffic. The same sources can also be important for the interior of a subway train for which there are specific sources in the tunnel system, for example diesel engines. Twice, in summer 1995 and winter 1996 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and diesel motor emission (estimated as elemental carbon) were determined in the interior of a car (a 2-year-old VW Golf with a three-way catalytic converter) and in the passenger compartment of a subway train (below ground). On each sampling day (in total 16 daily measurements in the car and 16 in the subway) the substances were determined in the breathing zone of the passengers from 07:00 h to 16:00 h under different meteorologic conditions (winter- and summertime). The car followed the route of the subway from the western Berlin borough of Spandau to the south-eastern borough of Neukölln, and back. The sampling represented a realistic exposure model for driving in a high traffic and polluted urban area. The electric subway train (also 2 years in use) connected the same parts of Berlin (31 km underground). The mean values obtained during the two measurement periods (summer/winter) inside the car were 1.0 and 3.2 ng/m 3 for benzo[ a]pyrene, 10.2 and 28.7 ng/m 3 for total-measured-PAHs, 14.1 and 8.2 μg/m 3 for EC and in the subway 0.7 and 4.0 ng/m 3 for benzo[ a]pyrene, 30.2 and 67.5 ng/m 3 for total PAHs, 10.9 and 6.9 μg/m 3 for EC. A comparison between subway and car exposures shows significantly higher concentrations of PAHs in the subway train, which can be explained by relatively high concentrations of fluoranthene and pyrene in the subway. So far a satisfactory explanation has not been found, but one source might be the wooden railway ties which were formerly preserved with tar based products. In wintertime in both transportation systems the concentrations of benzo[ a]pyrene are three to four times higher than in summer corresponding to the changing of the ambient air concentrations.

Evaluating multidimensional prices

The price at which a product is offered often does not consist of a single item of information, for example VW Golf, price; DM25,476. Instead, a multidimensional pricing system is used, e.g. the price comprises a down payment, monthly installments and a repayment period in months. Despite the considerable significance of offers of this type for marketing policy, no information is presently available to describe how a consumer integrates the individual price dimensions (e.g. down payment, monthly installments and number of repayment periods) to form a global judgment. This article derives hypotheses to explain the formation of a price judgment about multidimensional prices. Then, an empirical study designed to verify the formulated hypotheses is described. Finally, this article discusses the implications of the results of the study.

Prediction of the fuel consumption of petrol and diesel vehicles from a computer-simulation model

A computer-simulation model (using car-following theory, a constrained random input, and regression equations) was developed to predict the fuel consumption of petrol and diesel vehicles for a free-flow situation. The simulation model provides data for the formation of regression equations relating fuel consumption to vehicle speed for each body type and duty cycle. The vehicles chosen for simulation are a VW Golf 1500 LD diesel and a Golf 1100 L petrol vehicle, which have closely similar road performance over a range of traffic conditions. The model was designed to find the fuel consumption of petrol and diesel vehicles for freely-flowing traffic on the road and to sum the fuel consumption for all vehicles in the system. In addition, the model was used to examine the contribution made to fuel consumption by factors such as vehicle speed and passenger load.

What the eye doesn't see, …

We are just contemplating the purchase of a new car, and have been testdriving a number of competing models. A mirror fixed to the driver's door is nowadays standard equipment, and on most of the models this is attached near the front of the door, more or less in line with the hinges. But in the VW Golf it is set further back; a good feature, claimed the salesman, since it reduces the driver's “blind spot”. I confess that it was not obvious to me that this is so. If true, then perhaps it would compensate for the inconvenience of having to turn one's head further round to look in the mirror. But mathematical investigation seemed to be called for.

Biological availability of mutagenic compounds adsorbed onto diesel exhaust particulate

Diesel particles were collected from the exhaust of a VW Golf diesel car by electrostatic precipitation. The particulate and its DCM extract were highly mutagenic in the Salmonella/microsome test in the presence and absence of metabolic activation; the highest response was observed with TA98 and TA1538 tester strains. The biological availability of particulate-associated mutagenic compounds was demonstrated by administering powder to rats and assaying, in vitro, the urine excreted within 24 h after treatment. The highest activity was obtained with TA98 in the presence of metabolic activation. Typical dose-effect responses were evident in urine of animals treated by all the administration routes tested (i.p., s.c. and per os), both in the presence and absence of a suspending vehicle. Concentration of mutagenic compounds present in urine of treated animals could be achieved by chromatography on Amberlite XAD-2 and XAD-7 resins. This study provides direct evidence for bioavailability to animal tissues of mutagens adsorbed onto diesel particulate, although part of the activity might be ascribed to nitroaromatic compounds formed during the collection of the powder. The present study is part of a more comprehensive work on diesel exhaust particulate, and results have to be considered in this light before any final conclusion can be drawn.