ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 19

By Steve Schaeber, MACS Technical Editor

nternal combustion engines have powered our transportation
for decades, including the cars and trucks we drive each day.
Over the years we've seen attempts to build vehicles that run
on something out of the norm like ethanol, natural gas, propane, biodiesel or electricity. Of these, E85 (a blend of 85%
ethanol and 15% gasoline) has been the most popular along with
hybrid electric drivetrains.
But things are changing, and some think current technology is
bringing us closer to the days of all-electric transport, maybe even
sooner than we think. The many hybrids and plug-in electrics we've
seen since the late 1990s, particularly Toyota's wildly popular Prius lineup, have shown the world that electric drive is a viable and
efficient means of getting around, with the gas engine really only
needed to save us from our own range anxiety.
The shift appears to be leading to BEVs, or Battery Electric
Vehicles, according to data from the US DOE (Department of Energy). E85s made up the largest portion of AFVs (Alternative Fuel
Vehicles) in 2014, with 90 models offered compared to 43 hybrids
and 16 BEVs that same year. The number of E85s dropped to 84
in 2015 and hybrids went up to 46, but it was BEVs that saw the
biggest gain, increasing by 11 models to 27 vehicles offered. Two
more BEVs were introduced in 2016, while hybrids dropped off to
31 and E85s dropped to 66. See Figure 1. If this trend continues, we
can expect to see even more BEVS this year and beyond, while the
number of hybrids and flex fueled vehicles continues to drop off.
It's thanks to rapid improvements in battery technology that
we're seeing this growth and shift in AFV production, and changes
in how we power our cars and trucks also come with differences to
each subsystem found on vehicles from brakes and steering to infotainment and HVAC. Some designs have simply used a conventional A/C system that's not much different from what might be found in
gasoline-powered models, while others have called for more exotic
configurations. Following current trends and looking down the road,
let's take a closer look at these A/C systems.

How the hybrids do it
Did you know the US Energy Information Administration says the average American drives less than 40 miles
per day? Most BEVs can do that and
recharge overnight with a standard
110-volt household extension cord.

Probably the first car that comes to mind when you mention the
word hybrid is the Toyota Prius. The name itself is almost synonymous with the technology. The model, which first came out in 1997,
has sold more than 5.7 million worldwide since its introduction.
Overall hybrid sales account for only about 1.5% of the overall US
new car market, but it was the largest and fastest growing electric
drive segment up until last year when battery electrics got a boost.
Early Prius models used a conventional belt-driven A/C compressor, which meant that if the driver wanted A/C cooling, the engine had to run in order to turn the compressor. This was especially
noticeable at stoplights when the engine would turn off and the cabin

Spring 2017 * ACTION/NAPA

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017