The Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

1. The Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies http://www.me.ua.edu/cavt/ University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

2. Vision of the CAVT Promote the development of efficient, safe, secure, economical, durable, comfortable, user-friendly and environmentally-conscious vehicles for meeting the transportation needs of America through discovery, research and education. University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

3. CAVT Technical Thrusts • IC engines- emissions, fuels, novel combustion • Hybrid electric vehicles (IC engine/electric motor) • Fuel cells • NVH and controls • Materials • Manufacturing processes • Hydrogen vehicle safety Award winning Ballard/UA/ Freightliner APU project University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

4. Partnering & Research Initiation CAVT supports vehicle engineering research needs for Alabama manufacturers and the Southeast- we’ll travel! Mercedes M-Class, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Odyssey- made in Alabama! University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

5. Fuel Cell Research @UA CAVT • UA Departments • Chemical Eng. • Metallurgical Eng. • Mechanical Eng. • Chemistry PEMFC SOFC • Hydrogen Production • N-Based Energy Systems • Electrolyte Membrane • Catalyst & Electrode • Bipolar/End Plates • Heat Transfer • Vibration Analysis Modeling and System Integration • Electrode Materials • Electrolyte Material • Interconnects EPA/GCHSRC, NSF DOT/CAVT, DOE/EPSCoR Argonne, Ballard, Honda Fuel Cell Research University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

6. IC Engines Research • Venerable IC engines program- focus is emissions, alternative fuels and diesel engines. • Current research focuses on alternative fuels, hybrid electric vehicles, cold start emissions, and engine optimization for hybrid electric vehicles. University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

7. Structural Acoustics Lab • Detailed spatial vibration measurements • Vibration isolation, structural damping   • Source location, directivity, and other acoustic characterizations • Active control analysis, implementation • Structural vibration and acoustic radiation modeling Ballard/UA/Freightliner award-winning fuel cell APU project University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

8. 023 Experimental Efforts Simulations Critical Loads, Paths, and Response Levels Lumped Parameter Modeling H2 Road Response Fuel Cell Power Unit Crash Impulse • Finite Element • Identify Critical • Components • Hydrogen Leakage Issues • ID Failure Modes FCPU Subcomponents Vehicle Frame Benefits A better understanding of the safety issues and failure modes of light duty vehicles incorporating fuel cells will provide information critical to public policy for transportation. Goals Examine crashworthiness and operational safety issues of fuel cells in light duty vehicle applications through modeling and component testing. Fuel Cell Safety & Failure Modes in Light Duty Vehicles University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

9. Hydrogen Tank Integrity Studies (a) Pre-stress @ 45 MPa (b) Pre-stress @ 45 MPa (c) Operating Pressure 35 MPa w/ Pre-stress (d) Operating Pressure 35 MPa w/o Pre-stress University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

10. H2 Dispersion / Ignition in Enclosures • Motivation • Small leaks in H2 delivery systems may ignite, endangering vehicle occupants • Need to understand dispersion & ignition behavior increasing leak strength Dispersion behavior of H2 in a horizontal channel • Objectives • Characterize H2 dispersion behavior in production vehicle enclosures • Identify hydrogen ignition conditions and characterize ignition behavior • Examine mitigate methods • Methods • Computational Fluid Dynamics • Experimental Measurements of Hydrogen Concentrations & Ignition Behavior Computational Grid to model automobile interior University of Alabama Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies