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Kollmorgen Helps Virginia Tech to First Place in the 2011 EcoCAR Challenge

ControlDesign.com
01/17/2012

Kollmorgen collaborated in 2011 with Virginia Tech's Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) to develop and integrate the electric power generation system for the HEVT VT-REX hybrid vehicle. The Kollmorgen solution combines standard offerings comprised of mechanics and electromagnetic technology to satisfy all the requirements put forth by the Virginia Tech team. VT-REX is Virginia Tech's entry into the 2011 EcoCAR Challenge, a three-year collegiate advanced vehicle technology engineering competition. Virginia Tech placed first overall, and received numerous additional awards related to hybrid vehicle design and performance.

For this project Virginia Tech required a power generation system (BAS [Belt Alternator Starter]) that satisfied hybrid vehicle requirements for highway vehicles.  Specific requirements included a 320Vdc motor/generator with the ability to generate 2kW of battery charging power at high RPM, and provide 60Nm of torque to start the engine. The system also had to withstand all of the challenging environmental conditions that highway vehicles are exposed to. 

The electric power generation system supplied by Kollmorgen is a unique configuration that consists of an induction motor/generator electro-magnetic package. The motor/generator is used as the primary starting source to start the engine through the belt system. When the vehicle is idling, the generator provides power to charge the battery and powers any peripheral components on the vehicle. 

Kollmorgen's Vice President of Engineering, John Boyland, acknowledge that consumer automotive hybrids are outside the compnay's strategic focus, but this opportunity showed Kollmorgen's ability to deliver robust and flexible electric power generation solutions that are needed to operate heavier duty electrical equipment on larger vehicles suchs as utility trucks, construction and agricultural vehicles.

Kollmorgen has introduced a power generation platform specifically engineered to satisfy the rigorous commercial and military electric power needs. Kollmorgen's unique low voltage Power Generation System consists of flexible power electronics that support multiple vehicle motor/generator configurations and mild hybrid capability, providing the power that OEMs need at the voltage they want. And unlike vendors who supply just high or low voltage systems, Kollmorgen is uniquely positioned to serve as a one-stop shop for heavy-duty vehicle OEMs who have a wide variety of power needs within a single vehicle, and/or across vehicle platforms.

For more information visit www.kollmorgen.com.