Spring Break
Supercharged future
A&M is a leader in hybrid technology
By: Nathan Ball
Issue date: 7/22/08 Section: News
Texas A&M Professor Hamid Toliyat. said Aggie researchers are playing a key role in developing the next generation of hybrid technology.
"We are one of the prime universities in the nation working on electric machines and power electronics," said Toliyat, "other schools are spending a lot of money to set up programs like A&M's. A&M is also looking to expand more... I always have ten to fifteen Ph. D. and Masters students working for me."professor Make McDermott, "the advances in power electronics have opened up all kinds of new applications. A long time ago I was setting up a lab here at A&M and bought a power electric motor that put out five amperes; I thought that was amazing."
The simple design of automobile engines of the 1940's is completely different from that of modern engines said Toliyat. Electrical engineers have only recently become involved in engine design. However, hybrid engines require a multi-disciplinary approach.
Every engine has it's "sweet spot," according to Toliyat, "it is a system design problem." Combustion engines are most efficient given one set of parameters, while electrical engines operate best given another. The challenge, according to Toliyat, is to make these two systems cooperate where they compliment each other.
"It is all about fuel efficiency," said Toliyat.
A&M students will have a chance to design their own hybrid race car in the Formula Hybrid competition this spring using cutting-edge technology developed by Aggie researchers. Aggies have competed in the Formula SAE competition since 1999 and have been very successful, winning three times. However, the 2008 competition was the Aggies' last because the formula team will be focusing on the 2009 Formula Hybrid challenge next year.
"We were disappointed that A&M is withdrawing [from Formula SAE] primarily because A&M has done so well," said Brian Knight, a Mechanical engineering graduate student who was a member of the 2007 team. "However, next year's team will be starting with a clean slate, having no previous designs to base their race car on."
"Because this is their first year," Knight said, "the students will have to work hard just to design a hybrid car which will finish the race."
One of the most important factors for designing faster cars is reducing the weight. This is even more important than total horsepower, according to Knight; "for racing, the batteries are so heavy that hybrid cars may not perform as intended."
Formula Hybrid will be offered as a three hour credit senior design course for Mechanical and electrical engineers next year.
"Formula Hybrid is a great way for us to trick the students," McDermott said. "The students objective is to win the event. They think they are having a great time building a new race car, but they will work harder and learn more about design, project management, and team building than they ever would in a three hour course."
"We are one of the prime universities in the nation working on electric machines and power electronics," said Toliyat, "other schools are spending a lot of money to set up programs like A&M's. A&M is also looking to expand more... I always have ten to fifteen Ph. D. and Masters students working for me."professor Make McDermott, "the advances in power electronics have opened up all kinds of new applications. A long time ago I was setting up a lab here at A&M and bought a power electric motor that put out five amperes; I thought that was amazing."
The simple design of automobile engines of the 1940's is completely different from that of modern engines said Toliyat. Electrical engineers have only recently become involved in engine design. However, hybrid engines require a multi-disciplinary approach.
Every engine has it's "sweet spot," according to Toliyat, "it is a system design problem." Combustion engines are most efficient given one set of parameters, while electrical engines operate best given another. The challenge, according to Toliyat, is to make these two systems cooperate where they compliment each other.
"It is all about fuel efficiency," said Toliyat.
A&M students will have a chance to design their own hybrid race car in the Formula Hybrid competition this spring using cutting-edge technology developed by Aggie researchers. Aggies have competed in the Formula SAE competition since 1999 and have been very successful, winning three times. However, the 2008 competition was the Aggies' last because the formula team will be focusing on the 2009 Formula Hybrid challenge next year.
"We were disappointed that A&M is withdrawing [from Formula SAE] primarily because A&M has done so well," said Brian Knight, a Mechanical engineering graduate student who was a member of the 2007 team. "However, next year's team will be starting with a clean slate, having no previous designs to base their race car on."
"Because this is their first year," Knight said, "the students will have to work hard just to design a hybrid car which will finish the race."
One of the most important factors for designing faster cars is reducing the weight. This is even more important than total horsepower, according to Knight; "for racing, the batteries are so heavy that hybrid cars may not perform as intended."
Formula Hybrid will be offered as a three hour credit senior design course for Mechanical and electrical engineers next year.
"Formula Hybrid is a great way for us to trick the students," McDermott said. "The students objective is to win the event. They think they are having a great time building a new race car, but they will work harder and learn more about design, project management, and team building than they ever would in a three hour course."
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