ddd Seminar on HY-WIRE CAR Presented by

Introduction Cars are immensely complicated machines, but when you get down to it, they do an incredibly simple job. Most of the complex stuff in a car is dedicated to turning wheels, which grip the road to pull the car body and passengers along. Cars are immensely complicated machines, but when you get down to it, they do an incredibly simple job. Most of the complex stuff in a car is dedicated to turning wheels, which grip the road to pull the car body and passengers along. In this article, we'll look at one interesting vision of the future, General Motor's remarkable concept car, the Hy-wire.

HY-WIRE BASICS The defining characteristic of the Hy-wire (and its conceptual predecessor, the AUTOnomy) is that it doesn't have either of these two things. The defining characteristic of the Hy-wire (and its conceptual predecessor, the AUTOnomy) is that it doesn't have either of these two things. Instead of an engine, it has a fuel cell stack, which powers an electric motor connected to the wheels. Instead of an engine, it has a fuel cell stack, which powers an electric motor connected to the wheels.fuel cellelectric motorfuel cellelectric motor Instead of mechanical and hydraulic linkages, it has a drive by wire system -- a computer actually operates the components that move the wheels, activate the brakes and so on, based on input from an electronic controller. This is the same control system employed in modern fighter jets as well as many commercial planes. Instead of mechanical and hydraulic linkages, it has a drive by wire system -- a computer actually operates the components that move the wheels, activate the brakes and so on, based on input from an electronic controller. This is the same control system employed in modern fighter jets as well as many commercial planes.computermodern fighter jetsplanescomputermodern fighter jetsplanes

There is no steering wheel, there are no pedals and there is no engine compartment. There is no steering wheel, there are no pedals and there is no engine compartment. In fact, every piece of equipment that actually moves the car along the road is housed in an 11-inch-thick (28 cm) aluminum chassis -- also known as the skateboard -- at the base of the car. In fact, every piece of equipment that actually moves the car along the road is housed in an 11-inch-thick (28 cm) aluminum chassis -- also known as the skateboard -- at the base of the car. Everything above the chassis is dedicated solely to driver control and passenger comfort. Everything above the chassis is dedicated solely to driver control and passenger comfort. The floor of the fiberglass-and- steel passenger compartment can be totally flat, and it’s easy to give every seat lots of leg room. The floor of the fiberglass-and- steel passenger compartment can be totally flat, and it’s easy to give every seat lots of leg room.

Power The "Hy" in Hy-wire stands for hydrogen, the standard fuel for a fuel cell system. The "Hy" in Hy-wire stands for hydrogen, the standard fuel for a fuel cell system.fuel cellfuel cell Like batteries, fuel cells have a negatively charged terminal and a positively charged terminal that propel electrical charge through a circuit connected to each end. They are also similar to batteries in that they generate electricity from a chemical reaction. Like batteries, fuel cells have a negatively charged terminal and a positively charged terminal that propel electrical charge through a circuit connected to each end. They are also similar to batteries in that they generate electricity from a chemical reaction.batteries But unlike a battery, you can continually recharge a fuel cell by adding chemical fuel -- in this case, hydrogen from an onboard storage tank and oxygen from the atmosphere. But unlike a battery, you can continually recharge a fuel cell by adding chemical fuel -- in this case, hydrogen from an onboard storage tank and oxygen from the atmosphere.

Hydrogen tanks and fuel-cell stack in the Hy-wire

Contd… The basic idea is to use a catalyst to split a hydrogen molecule (H2) into two H protons (H+, positively charged single hydrogen atoms) and two electrons (e-). Oxygen on the cathode (positively charged) side of the fuel cell draws H+ ions from the anode side through a proton exchange membrane, but blocks the flow of electrons. The basic idea is to use a catalyst to split a hydrogen molecule (H2) into two H protons (H+, positively charged single hydrogen atoms) and two electrons (e-). Oxygen on the cathode (positively charged) side of the fuel cell draws H+ ions from the anode side through a proton exchange membrane, but blocks the flow of electrons.atoms The electrons (which have a negative charge) are attracted to the protons (which have a positive charge) on the other side of the membrane, but they have to move through the electrical circuit to get there. The electrons (which have a negative charge) are attracted to the protons (which have a positive charge) on the other side of the membrane, but they have to move through the electrical circuit to get there.electrical circuitelectrical circuit The fuel-cell stack in the Hy-wire is made up of 200 individual cells connected in series, which collectively provide 94 kilowatts of continuous power and 129 kilowatts at peak power. re. rage tank and oxygen from the atmosphere. The fuel-cell stack in the Hy-wire is made up of 200 individual cells connected in series, which collectively provide 94 kilowatts of continuous power and 129 kilowatts at peak power. re. rage tank and oxygen from the atmosphere. This system delivers DC voltage ranging from 125 to 200 volts, depending on the load in the circuit. This system delivers DC voltage ranging from 125 to 200 volts, depending on the load in the circuit.DC voltageDC voltage The motor controller boosts this up to 250 to 380 volts and converts it to AC current to drive the three-phase electric motor that rotates the wheels (this is similar to the system used in conventional electric cars). The motor controller boosts this up to 250 to 380 volts and converts it to AC current to drive the three-phase electric motor that rotates the wheels (this is similar to the system used in conventional electric cars).motor controller electric carsmotor controller electric cars

Control The Hy-wire's "brain" is a central computer housed in the middle of the chassis. It sends electronic signals to the motor control unit to vary the speed, the steering mechanism to maneuver the car, and the braking system to slow the car down. The Hy-wire's "brain" is a central computer housed in the middle of the chassis. It sends electronic signals to the motor control unit to vary the speed, the steering mechanism to maneuver the car, and the braking system to slow the car down.motorsteeringmotorsteering The computer connects to the body's electronics through a single universal docking port. The computer connects to the body's electronics through a single universal docking port. The driver's control unit, dubbed the X-drive, is a lot closer to a video game controller than a conventional steering wheel and pedal arrangement. The controller has two ergonomic grips, positioned to the left and right of a small LCD monitor The driver's control unit, dubbed the X-drive, is a lot closer to a video game controller than a conventional steering wheel and pedal arrangement. The controller has two ergonomic grips, positioned to the left and right of a small LCD monitorvideo game LCDvideo game LCD

Contd… Components of the HY-WIRE car

Contd… The 5.8-inch (14.7-cm) color monitor in the center of the controller displays all the stuff you'd normally find on the dashboard (speed, mileage, fuel level). The 5.8-inch (14.7-cm) color monitor in the center of the controller displays all the stuff you'd normally find on the dashboard (speed, mileage, fuel level).monitor One of the coolest things about the drive- by-wire system is that you can fine-tune vehicle handling without changing anything in the car's mechanical components -- all it takes to adjust the steering, accelerator or brake sensitivity is some new computer software. One of the coolest things about the drive- by-wire system is that you can fine-tune vehicle handling without changing anything in the car's mechanical components -- all it takes to adjust the steering, accelerator or brake sensitivity is some new computer software.

X-drive of Hy-WIRE car

The X-drive can slide to either side of the vehicle. The X-drive can slide to either side of the vehicle.

Hy-wire Numbers  Top speed: 100 miles per hour (161 kph)  Weight: 4,185 pounds (1,898 kg)  Chassis length: 14 feet, 3 inches (4.3 meters)  Chassis width: 5 feet, 5.7 inches (1.67 meters)  Chassis thickness: 11 inches (28 cm)  Wheels: eight-spoke, light alloy wheels.  Tires: 20-inch (51-cm) in front and 22-inch (56-cm) in back Tires  Fuel-cell power: 94 kilowatts continuous, 129 kilowatts peak Fuel-cell  Fuel-cell-stack voltage: 125 to 200 volts  Motor: 250- to 380-volt three-phase asynchronous electric motor  Crash protection: front and rear "crush zones" (or "crash boxes") to absorb impact energy  Related GM patents in progress: 30 patents  GM team members involved in design: 500+

The Hy-wire has wheels, seats and windows like a conventional car, but the similarity pretty much ends there. There is no engine under the hood and no steering wheel or pedals inside. The Hy-wire has wheels, seats and windows like a conventional car, but the similarity pretty much ends there. There is no engine under the hood and no steering wheel or pedals inside.

Advantages In Hy- wire car the central computer will be able to monitor driver input which will make it much safer. In Hy- wire car the central computer will be able to monitor driver input which will make it much safer. This car can resolve the major fuel problems and safety issues. This car can resolve the major fuel problems and safety issues. This is eco-friendly car. This is eco-friendly car.

Disadvantages This car does not have any physical connection between the driver and the car’s mechanical component, so the electrical failure would mean total loss of control. This car does not have any physical connection between the driver and the car’s mechanical component, so the electrical failure would mean total loss of control. The production of the hydrogen which is used as fuel in the Hy-wire car can generate about as much pollution as using gasoline engines and storage and distribution systems still have a long way to go. The production of the hydrogen which is used as fuel in the Hy-wire car can generate about as much pollution as using gasoline engines and storage and distribution systems still have a long way to go.

Conclusion It fully intends to release a production version of the car in 2010, assuming it can resolve the major fuel and safety issues. But even if the Hy-wire team doesn't meet this goal. Automakers are definitely planning to move beyond the conventional car sometime soon, toward a computerized, environmentally friendly alternative. In all likelihood, life on the highway will see some major changes within the next few decades. It fully intends to release a production version of the car in 2010, assuming it can resolve the major fuel and safety issues. But even if the Hy-wire team doesn't meet this goal. Automakers are definitely planning to move beyond the conventional car sometime soon, toward a computerized, environmentally friendly alternative. In all likelihood, life on the highway will see some major changes within the next few decades.

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