Reduced energy consumption and environmental impact from road vehicles through the development and implementation of simulation tools

Objective

Objectives

The objective is to develop and validate a standardised Vehicle Mission Simulation (VMS) tool for advancing and optimising efficient road based transport systems.

The simulation tool will have a wide application:
Assist from System Design and Integration to Policy Decision Support. Suitable for a wide range of users.
Model energy usage and environmental impact of current and future vehicles.
Includes Internal Combustion, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.

Technical Approach

The project includes a number of key phases:
Systems Identification
- system boundaries, parameters, interactions and data formats Data Acquisition
- collection of data on routes, vehicles and systems
Systems Modelling
- definition of algorithms and optimisation routines
Implementation
- object oriented software analysis, design and implementation Simulation and Optimisation
- validation and use of the VMS tool to optimise vehicle/route combinations.

Expected Achievements and Exploitation

The use of object oriented software technology to produce a simulation tool which is easy to reconfigure or extend.
The key features of the software tool include:
- intuitive graphical user interface.
- can be used by a wide variety of users with different levels of expertise.
- simulate a comprehensive range of systems and components. - accept data in many different formats.
- include calculation of multiple scenarios and optimisation routines. - robust and comprehensive relational database.
- on-line help system.
- executable windows program.
A database will be constructed including data on routes, vehicles and individual systems and components.
The VMS tool will be validated against a matrix of different vehicle types and routes. The tool will be used to define ways of optimising a number of existing vehicle/route combinations to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
The VMS tool will be able to assess a wide variety of control strategies and algorithms.

Fields of science

• social sciences › social geography › transport › electric vehicles
• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › software › software applications › simulation software
• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › databases › relational databases

Programme(s)

• FP4-NNE-JOULE C - Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0204 - RUE in transport

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

MIRA LIMITED

Address

Watling Street
CV10 0TU Nuneaton
United Kingdom

Participants (20)

CENTRE OF LOGISTICS AND EXPERT SYSTEMS GMBH

Germany

Address

55-57,karl-scharfenberg-strasse 55-57
38229 Salzgitter

CEST PROGRAMMES LTD.

United Kingdom

Address

Berners Road 5, Islington
N1 0PW London

CITELEC

Belgium

Address

2,pleinlaan 2
1050 Bruxelles

E.ON UK PLC

United Kingdom

Address

Ratcliffe-on-soar
NG11 0EE Nottingham

Firstbus Transit Developments

United Kingdom

Address

Manvers Street
BA1 1JJ Bath

GKN Technology

United Kingdom

Address

Birmingham New Road
WV4 6BW Wolverhampton

Impetus Consultants Ltd.

Greece

Address

9,syngrou Avenue
11748 Athens

Institute for Applied Automotive Research

Spain

Address

L'albornar
43710 Santa Oliva

KRAFTVERKEHRSGESELLSCHAFT MBH BRAUNSCHWEIG

Germany

Address

1,in Den Blumentriften 1
38226 Salzgitter

LE MOTEUR MODERNE SA

France

Address

9,rue Benoit Frachon 9
91127 Palaiseau

Oldham France SA

France

Address

Rue Alexandre Fleming
62033 Arras

Shell International Petroleum Co Ltd

United Kingdom

Address

SE1 7NA London

Société des Transports Collectifs Rochelais

France

Address

Rue Du Moulin De Vendôme
17140 Lacord

T&B Technology and Business Srl

Italy

Address

Via Ceccardi 1/17
16121 Genova

TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL RESEARCH LTD.

United Kingdom

Address

Bore Street 16
WS13 6LL Lichfield

Transports de Barcelona SA

Spain

Address

21-23,calle 60
08040 Barcelona

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK

Ireland

Address

Plassey Technological Park
61 Limerick

University of Central England in Birmingham

United Kingdom

Address

Perry Barr
B42 2SU Birmingham

Wavedriver Ltd

United Kingdom

Address

Beech House Cambridge Road Melbourn
SG8 6TA Royston

École d'Ingenieurs en Genie des Systemes Industriels

France

Address

26r Rue De Vaux De Foletier
17011 La Rochelle