An increasing number of problems, particularly in the traffic and environment sectors, call for the development and implementation of new types of drive systems with a low fuel consumption and reduced exhaust gas emissions. Hybrid drives, a combination of electric and IC engines, offer numerous advantages here. For example, they can be operated in densely populated areas with no emissions, unlike today's vehicles with IC engines. What is more, the typical disadvantages of electric cars such as a limited radius of action and poor driving performance, are also overcome. The Institute of Automotive Technology at the Technical University in Aachen has been developing prototype hybrid vehicles in co-operation with the automobile industry since the seventies. A new compact class hybrid vehicle, the "ika-Hybrid II", has now been developed on the basis of the experience gathered over these many years of research work. Apart from the typical criteria for a hybrid vehicle, namely a reduction of the energy consumption and exhaust gas emissions, this hybrid vehicle was developed from the aspect of achieving low vehicle manufacturing costs by using standard components. By extensive test bench tests the function and the environmental advantage of the hybrid vehicle has been proven. In the meantime the vehicle has also been tested in normal traffic on the road. The vehicle has travelled around 5000 km since being built with no significant breakdowns or faults. (A)
Abstract