Extreme Hybrid Tops 150 MPG
By Todd Kaho
While the world waits for the auto industry to deliver on the plug-in promise, privately owned AFS Trinity is touring the country with a prototype SUV the company claims is delivering 150 mpg. Its goal is to drive interest and promote a licensing relationship with a major automaker, providing a leg-up on the competition.
The Bellevue, Washington company’s demonstration unit is based on the inexpensive first generation Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid, but it’s quick to point out that the technology will work for any size or configuration vehicle. The XH-150 (Extreme Hybrid 150 mpg) looks like a normal Vue on the outside, but major changes have taken place beneath the skin. Not the least of these is the use of AFS Trinity’s Fast Energy Storage System, which adds ultra capacitors to an upgraded lithium-ion battery pack.
Is 150 mpg really possible from a mid-size sport utility? AFS Trinity says 'yes,' given the proper driving cycle. AFS Trinity calculates the 150 mpg figure based on driving an average of 40 miles per day, six days a week, with 100 miles on the seventh day for a total of 340 miles. Over 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, which the XH-150 accommodates in zero-emission mode since it offers a range of over 40 miles on electric power alone. Interestingly, this is the same target range set for Chevy’s Volt PHEV.
Tests at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds in South Carolina actually demonstrated 41.9 miles in EV mode. So in this driving cycle, the XH-150 doesn’t use any gasoline for weekday commuting, but instead runs on battery power from a home plug-in at night. On the seventh day, when the gasoline engine is needed to augment electric power for driving farther, a little more than two gallons of gas is consumed to go 100 miles. Under this scenario the total for the week is 340 miles on two gallons for 170 mpg, which AFS Trinity rounds down to 150 mpg.
Every driver will have a different drive cycle, so as the saying goes, “your mileage may vary.” Even if you regularly drive more than 40 miles daily, fuel economy will be greatly improved over the factory Vue Green Line mild hybrid. Some drivers may discover they rarely need the gasoline engine at all, with their typical drive involving fewer than 40 miles before a 110 outlet can be found with a few hours available for charging.
But wait, there’s more: In all electric mode, the XH-150 reportedly goes from 0 – 60 mph a full second quicker than the stock Vue Hybrid. In full hybrid mode when utilizing both ultra capacitor power and the gasoline engine, that time is cut to just 6.9 seconds, more than a half second quicker than the high-performance Lexus RX400h SUV hybrid. The combined gasoline-electric power is said to be equivalent to 370 horsepower. You don’t need to baby the XH-150 at low speeds to maintain all-electric operation, either. It's designed to reach speeds up to 87 mph solely on power supplied by its 200 horsepower electric motor.
The XH-150’s performance is made possible by the introduction of ultra capacitors in the hybrid scheme. While traditional batteries don’t like discharging rapidly for high energy demand applications, ultra capacitors are designed to do just that. An ultra capacitor delivers a big jolt of power in a hurry and can recover that power quickly, too. When a surge of power is needed for acceleration, the ultra capacitor delivers the charge and acts as a buffer to allow the Li-ion battery to maintain a slow, steady draw of power to maximize power and range. After accelerating to a desired speed, the battery takes over since it doesn’t require much power to maintain cruise speed once the vehicle is in motion. The ultra capacitors are then quickly topped off by the battery, regenerative braking, or a combination of the two so they are ready for the next cycle.
AFS Trinity CEO Edward Furia points out that the technology enabling this kind of high-efficiency performance comes from “rocket scientists and car guys,” including former space and atomic energy scientists at AFS Trinity's Livermore, California, laboratory and the auto experts at the noted global automotive engineering firm Ricardo, which handled technology integration into the Saturn Vue.
AFS Trinity places both the larger, more powerful Li-ion battery and the ultra capacitor packs in the rear of the Vue beneath the load floor. The electronic control unit – essentially the “brains” of the system – is located in the engine compartment, commanding power from the battery, ultra capacitors, and/or gasoline engine as demands require. The system is monitored by a replacement instrument cluster alongside the speedometer that includes large analog state-of-charge gauges for the Li-ion battery and ultra capacitor. The XH-150’s electrical charge port is conveniently hidden behind the Vue's flip-down rear license plate.
As noted, AFS Trinity would ideally like to license this technology to automakers and see it incorporated into vehicles produced on their assembly lines. However, the company is also prepared to forge ahead and raise the funds to modify existing hybrids, with the aim of eventually producing its own SUVs and sedans. According to AFS Trinity, the XH-150 system would add an $8,700 premium to the cost of a vehicle like the Vue, which would bring the total to around $30,000. If 150 mpg is achieved in real world driving, that premium could be recouped well within the average lifecycle of the vehicle while delivering a fun to drive, functional driving experience in the process.
Want to know more about plug-in hybrids? Be sure to check out these articles on GreenCar.com:
How GM is Making the Volt Plug-In Hybrid "Real"
Plug-and-Play Prius Runs on Electricity
Why We Want to Plug In Our Cars
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