This study presents a simulation platform for a hybrid electric motorcycle with an engine, a driving motor, and an integrated starter generator (ISG) as three power sources. This platform also consists of the driving cycle, driver, lithium-ion battery, continuously variable transmission (CVT), motorcycle dynamics, and energy management system models. Two Arduino DUE microcontrollers integrated with the required circuit to process analog-to-digital signal conversion for input and output are utilized to carry out a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation. A driving cycle called worldwide motorcycle test cycle (WMTC) is used for evaluating the performance characteristics and response relationship among subsystems. Control strategies called rule-based control (RBC) and equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) are simulated and compared with the purely engine-driven operation. The results show that the improvement percentages for equivalent fuel consumption and energy consumption for RBC and ECMS using the pure software simulation were 17.74%/18.50% and 42.77%/44.22% respectively, while those with HIL were 18.16%/18.82% and 42.73%/44.10%, respectively.

The performance assessment and vehicle verification of nano-alumina (Al₂O₃) engine oil (NAEO) were conducted in this study. The NAEO was produced by mixing Al₂O₃ nanoparticles with engine oil using a two-step synthesis method. The weight fractions of the Al₂O₃ nanoparticles in the four test samples were 0 (base oil), 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 wt. %. The measurement of basic properties included: (1) density; (2) viscosity at various sample temperatures (20–80 °C). A rotary tribology testing machine with a pin-on-disk apparatus was used for the wear test. The measurement of the before-and-after difference of specimen (disk) weight (wear test) indicates that the NAEO with 1.5 wt. % Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (1.5 wt. % NAEO) was the chosen candidate for further study. For the scooter verification on an auto-pilot dynamometer, there were three tests, including: (1) the European Driving Cycle (ECE40) driving cycle; (2) constant speed (50 km/h); and (3) constant throttle positions (20%, 40%, 60%, and 90%). For the ECE40 driving cycle and the constant speed tests, the fuel consumption was decreased on average by 2.75%, while it was decreased by 3.57% for the constant throttle case. The experimental results prove that the engine oil with added Al₂O₃ nanoparticles significantly decreased the fuel consumption. In the future, experiments with property tests of other nano-engine oils and a performance assessment of the nano-engine-fuel will be conducted.

This paper aims at investigating the fundamental characteristics of energy efficiency for power split electronic-continuously-variable-transmission (e-CVT) hybrid systems under the operation of electric circulation, i.e., circulating part of the engine power through the generator and motor in form of electric energy to improve system efficiency as well as perform the continuously-variable-transmission (CVT) functionality. The relations of kinematics and energy conservation for each power component are constructed and analyzed to classify how the operating points of the engine in term of torque and rotational speed may vary under different degrees of electric circulation indicated by a parameter called ratio of circulating power. Thereby, power split e-CVT hybrid systems can be classified into three types: upward circulation, downward circulation, and neutral circulation. Accordingly, two power split e-CVT hybrid systems, one of input split type and the other of output split type, are selected to be analyzed regarding their operating characteristics and simulated on their performances of energy efficiency. As a result, the former is a type of downward circulation in favor of driving at low speed and high driving load, while the latter is a type of upward circulation with an advantage of driving at high speed and low driving load. Thereby, applying this analysis to investigate the effects of electric circulation on power split e-CVT systems may help the developers implement suitable energy management and control strategy in accordance with their corresponding operating characteristics of energy efficiency.

This study aims at developing a vehicle dynamic simulator using combined CarSim and MATLAB/Simulink software packages loaded with the performance curves and characteristics of an internal combustion engine to optimize the effects of steering control on the energy consumption of an internal combustion engine vehicle. The simulator consists of modules for the engine, transmission, vehicle dynamic load, energy management strategy, and driving patterns. The goal of this research is to develop an advanced Steer By Wire (SBW) system. As the vehicle is turning, the repeatable turning or oversteer might occur due to several factors: 1. The path is narrow or the road curvature is high; 2. The insufficient designs of turning radius; 3. The driver's choice for turning paths; 4. Human operation factor (slow or fast operating steering wheel that the vehicle is unable to follow the route). Hence, under various steering sensitivity, vehicle speed, and turning radius, we searched the optimal operation parameters globally that the vehicle might save the maximal energy under the safety concerns. The results will be provided as the reference for the drivers or directly be integrated for the SBW under the semi-automatic driving mode. The results of optimal steering control show that: as the turning radius is 40m and vehicle speed is 70 km/h, the maximal energy consumption improvement is 42.72%. If the optimal vehicle speed is considered, the improvement can be even larger. The vehicle model was built based on the real vehicle parameters which can further be employed for the real transportation system.

This paper aims at the development of a novel onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system for scooters. The corresponding feasibility and evaporative emission are evaluated so that this preliminary study may offer important contributions for developing an effective ORVR system in Taiwan. A survey of research is initially conducted to compare the evaporative emission of the ORVR systems mounted on vehicles with that of the vapor recovery systems of Stage II installed at gas stations. The results show that the ORVR technology possesses better controllability and lower cost. Then, a novel ORVR system for scooters consisting of a self-made fuel tank, a self-made carbon canister, a vapor pipe, a fuel limit vent valve, and a surge protector etc. is developed and tested. The proposed self-made carbon canister possesses the storage capacity of fuel vapor large enough to perform the adsorption tests of diurnal and hot soak for as long as three consecutive days. Finally, the designed ORVR system is installed on a scooter and tested for evaporative emission under the regulation of Taiwan so as to check if it fulfills the requirements. The results are further compared with those with the evaporative emission control system (EVAP). A significant improvement on the leaking problem of fuel vapor is gained by using the proposed ORVR system. Consequently, the study can offer a valuable reference for developing an economical and effective ORVR system in the future.

This research mainly aims at the construction of the novel acceleration pedal, the brake pedal and the steering system by mechanical designs and mechatronics technologies, an approach of which is rarely seen in Taiwan. Three highlights can be addressed: 1. The original steering parts were removed with the fault tolerance design being implemented so that the basic steering function can still remain in case of the function failure of the control system. 2. A larger steering angle of the front wheels in response to a specific rotated angle of the steering wheel is devised when cornering or parking at low speed in interest of drivability, while a smaller one is designed at high speed in favor of driving stability. 3. The operating patterns of the throttle, brake, and steering wheel can be customized in accordance with various driving environments and drivers’ requirements using the self-developed software. The implementation of a steer-by-wire system in the remote driving control for a go kart is described in this study. The mechatronic system is designed in order to support the conversion from human driving to autonomous driving for the go kart in the future. The go kart, using machine vision, is wirelessly controlled in the WiFi frequency bands. The steer-by-wire system was initially modeled as a standalone system for one wheel and subsequently developed into its complete form, including front wheel steering components, acceleration components, brake components, a microcontroller, drive circuit and digital to analog converter. The control output section delivers the commands to the subsystem controllers, relays and converters. The remote driving control of the go kart is activated when proper commands are sent by the vehicle control unit (VCU). All simulation and experiment results demonstrated that the control strategies of duel motors and the VCU control were successfully optimized. The feasibility study and performance evaluation of Taiwan’s go karts will be conducted as an extension of this study in the near future.