Auto21 funding advances hybrid vehicle research, among many other projects

June 9, 2008

Minister Jim Prentice announcing funding for 54 Canadian research projects that are exploring a range of advanced technologies to make future automobiles more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly at the AUTO21 2008 Conference.

Automotive research revved up recently with the announcement of a two-year $20-million funding injection from the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence. Together with its 240 private and public sector partners, the national automotive research organization is funding 54 university projects that will enhance Canada's reputation as a leader in auto R&D and help develop vehicles that are safer and more environmentally friendly.

Pushing ahead with such green innovations if the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), which landed a $291,000 grant for a hybrid electric vehicle research project. The school’s proposal calls for continued design, development and assessment of a hybrid vehicle test bed. Such a vehicle will allow researchers and their graduate students to explore and gauge a hands-on experience with a hybrid drivetrain.

Greg Rohrauer, an assistant professor with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at UOIT, will act as the project leader on a team with four additional professors: two from the University of Waterloo, one from the University of Windsor and one from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Veridian Connections and Siemens Canada are also collaborating in the research.

“I'm very pleased and thankful that our research team has been recognized with this significant award to continue our efforts in this critical area,” Rohrauer said. “This work has the great potential to make a significant impact on the ability to produce hybrid vehicles that further meet the demands of motorists while increasingly minimizing their impact on the environment.”

Greg Rohrauer, an assistant professor with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at UOIT

The team's Hybrid Active Safety Systems and Grid Interfacing project will develop innovative systems, making hybrids safer and more environmentally friendly through integration of drivetrain technologies and systems that complement each other. The major focus is the development of a hybrid electric vehicle that effectively uses off-peak power to recharge its on-board batteries and has built-in communications capabilities for that purpose. This is an especially important factor given the current state of soaring fuel costs.

AUTO21 research falls within six key areas--including the design processes category under which Rohrauer’s project lands--along with safety and injury prevention; societal issues; materials and manufacturing; powertrains, fuels and emissions; and intelligent systems and sensors. Other awarded projects range from child seat safety and hybrid materials research to fuel cell advancements and the expansion of collaborative design tools for multi-disciplinary design projects.

UOIT therefore wasn’t the only beneficiary: in fact, many universities were awarded money for multiple projects, including the University of British Columbia, which snagged funding for six projects. The school will look into vehicular telematics over WiFi and WiMax networks, inertial sensor clusters for adaptive path prediction, combustion of low-emission automotive-tailored natural gas, micro-machining of dies and moulds, processing technologies of light materials cast components and advanced seat design.

On top of the UOIT grant, cash was dolled out to multiple post-secondary institutions for hybrid and fuel cell projects as the importance of such technology to the future of the North American automotive market has increased substantially in recent years. Nearly every major manufacturer has developed a hybrid vehicle or is in the planning stages of adding one to their fleet.

In addition to the development of alternate fuel and hybrid vehicles, Rohrauer's other research specialties include advanced composite materials; analysis and design of composite pressure vessels; materials testing; and vehicle dynamics, manufacturing technology and application.
www.auto21.ca
www.uoit.ca