Bosch, Ricardo and the University of Michigan Awarded Department of Energy Funding to Develop Next-Generation Flex-Fuel Vehicle

Release date: 10 August 2007

Robert Bosch LLC announced today that it has been awarded funding by the Department of Energy (DOE) to collaborate with Ricardo, Inc. and the University of Michigan for the development of an optimized flex-fuel vehicle (FFV). The research partners will take a benchmark gasoline-optimized engine with direct injection and turbo charging, and combine hardware modifications with novel sensing and control strategies to build a FFV. The target FFV will be capable of running on any blend of ethanol, up to E-85, with fuel economy close to a conventional gasoline-fueled vehicle, and will meet United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ultra low emissions vehicle (ULEV) regulations

“As the global energy sector, which heavily relies on fossil fuels, remains volatile due to security reasons and availability of resources, industries and governments are focusing on alternative energy sources to support our rapidly increasing energy needs,” said the principle investigator of the project, Hakan Yilmaz, Manager of System and Advanced Engineering, Gasoline Systems, Robert Bosch LLC. Sujit Jain, Senior Vice President Powertrain, Gasoline and Transmission Systems, Robert Bosch LLC said “ethanol-based fuels are a reliable and renewable energy source that are especially well-suited for the transportation industry. With Bosch’s global expertise in gasoline and ethanol combustion technologies, we will focus on the U.S. market needs and trends while researching technological advancements to exploit the benefits of ethanol as a fuel.”

The United States Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, through its FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program, sponsors research intended to strengthen America’s energy security, environmental quality and economic vitality through public-private partnerships. Funding for the Bosch, Ricardo and University of Michigan research program is being provided by the DOE and was chosen through a highly competitive review process of research proposals.
Ricardo will tap its expertise in engine design and engineering services to supplement the research and technology aspects of the FFV program.

“The need to address issues of energy security and climate change through more efficient use of fossil fuels combined with the exploitation of sources of renewable energy is one of the greatest imperatives of our time at both a national and global level,” said Dean Harlow, president, Ricardo, Inc. “Ricardo is pleased to be a part of this important research program, which aims to pave the way for the next generation of flex-fuel vehicles.”

Together with Bosch, the University of Michigan will develop the methodology needed to swiftly estimate the ethanol content of a gasoline-ethanol fuel blend and optimize the engine combustion for the detected fuel blend by adjusting all the critical degrees of freedom available in the engine control unit. The estimation and control development is based on models, and is augmented with feedback laws that ensure robustness to environmental uncertainties, engine component aging and rapid calibration.

"The overall goal is to develop flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on any blend of ethanol -- from zero to 85 percent – with minimal or no penalty in usable vehicle range," said University of Michigan mechanical engineering professor Anna Stefanopoulou. "This effort will provide the basis for the technological leap required to make flex-fuel vehicles more practical and efficient."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Ricardo, Inc: The premier global eco-innovation technology firm, Ricardo Inc is the North American subsidiary of Ricardo plc, a leader in the development and application of new technologies and a partner to global transportation sector OEMs in the creation of new vehicles, powertrains, controls / electronics and new-energy technologies. The company’s expertise ranges from concept design and strategic consulting through to prototype production and manufacturing implementation. Ricardo’s skill base represents the state-of-the-art in low emissions and fuel-efficient powertrain technology, and can be best summarised: “Ricardo is Fuel Economy.”

Ricardo plc: With technical centres and offices in the UK, USA, Germany, the Czech Republic, China, Japan and Korea, Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and strategic consultant to the world’s transportation sector industries. The company’s engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell powertrain technologies. Its customers include the world’s major vehicle, engine and transmission manufacturers, tier 1 suppliers and leading motorsport teams. Ricardo is committed to excellence and industry leadership in people, technology and knowledge; approximately 70 per cent of its employees are highly qualified multi-disciplined professional engineers and technicians. A public company, Ricardo plc posted sales of £173 million in financial year 2006 and is a constituent of the FTSE techMark 100 index – a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange