Hybrid Vehicle Test Procedure Development

Electric hybrid vehicles, because of their multiple energy sources and large varieties of propulsive configurations and control schemes, present a special problem in the development of formalized Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test procedures. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is undertaking a task under the Department of Energy (DOE) Hybrid Commercialization Project to develop a draft test procedure with supporting actual test data that will assist the government in the development of a formal EPA test procedure for emissions certification and equivalent fuel economy determination for the possible inclusion of electric hybrid vehicles (EHVS) in corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) allowances. The procedures are being developed by an iterative review process with the interested and effected government agencies and industrial organizations. Data obtained from testing an EHV at JPL and from the General Electric Near-term Hybrid Vehicle program will be used to support the development and verify the procedure. This paper summarizes the procedure development plan and discusses the impacts and complexities of a variety of factors. A straw-man test procedure is developed and discussed. The paper emphasizes the need for interaction and input into the development process by all interested parties. While absolute concensus is not realistic, at least the final procedure must be considered “reasonable” and be understood by all the affected interests.