MSc Funded Theses

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Browsing MSc Funded Theses by Course name "Automotive Technology Management"

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    A strategic assessment of alternative engineering concepts for a low volume sportscar manufacturer to meet european stage II pedestrian head impact legislative requirements
    (Cranfield University, 2013-02) Caress, John; Marco, J.
    The Lotus Elite concept car was revealed at the Paris motor show in September 2010 and is a two- door 2+2 Sports Grand Tourer planned to compete in the High Luxury Sportscar vehicle segment and is part of a revolutionary model strategy based on a new platform to revitalise Lotus Cars into a profitable and sustainable business through increased margins and volumes. Future Lotus vehicles will therefore have to comply with any future legislative requirements. These are primarily focussed on vehicle and occupant safety crash performance and these requirements are an important attribute of the proposed Lotus Elite design and development programme. Road traffic fatalities are a worldwide issue according to a report by the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.2 million people lost their lives and 50 million non-fatal injuries were due to Road Traffic Accidents. Over the past decade automotive safety initiatives have grown in scope to not only include the vehicle occupants but also to pedestrians. Legislation relating to Pedestrian Protection currently exists in the European Union with further requirements and stricter targets planned for introduction in 2012 and beyond. These new requirements pose a quandary for Lotus due to the fact that aesthetic style is an important attribute of delivering Lotus core brand values and legislation requirements relating to pedestrian protection may drive a need to compromise and potentially degrade the impact of this key attribute. These compromises are driven by the potential physical geometric changes that maybe required to the front end surfaces to meet targets. A review of current literature was extensively performed to benchmarking of competitors, identifies industry trends and market landscape to determine what has been, is, and is going to be possibly done in the future to meet pedestrian protection requirements. A set of requirements and targets were defined to enable a more structured review of what technology automotive vehicle manufacturers and suppliers are offering and whether these technologies or strategies could meet the needs of the Lotus Elite to meet requirements. The current status of the Lotus Elite showcar relating to the achievement of pedestrian protection head impact requirements was derived. Identifying the head impact landscape of the vehicle geometry and highlighted areas of the vehicle that require further analysis and engineering focus to meet pedestrian protection targets. Both legislative and consumer test regime validity to ‘real’ world accident injury data are reviewed and discussed with a view that existing test criteria and methods do not address the primary causes of injury to pedestrians in the windscreen and ‘A’ pillar areas. Conclusions draws on research and CAE testing carried out by the Lotus Cars Engineering team to recommend that Elite must meet pedestrian protection requirements in order to support its growth strategy. The adoption of a passive pedestrian protection design strategy is also proposed by the Elite programme team, potentially allowing a lower technical risk and a faster time to market with reduced cost compared to active systems.
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    A technical, environmental and economic assessment of future low-carbon heavy-duty powertrain technologies
    (Cranfield University, 2012-02) Plumb, Colin James; Sherwood, Glenn
    The development of low-carbon powertrains, to both reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and minimise greenhouse gas emissions, has become a key technological focus for automotive companies. This study investigates, assesses, and critiques future powertrain solutions to determine which technologies demonstrate the ability to both satisfy the environmental requirements while fulfilling the demands of commercial vehicle heavy-duty drive cycles. The implications of low-carbon technologies on the automotive industry are also reviewed. The technologies discussed are identified through; industry research, patent reviews, published low-carbon roadmaps, and academic literature. The internal combustion engine is expected to remain the primary heavy-duty powertrain technology until beyond 2030. Although increased electrification is anticipated, the demands of heavy-duty drive cycles prohibit the use of the current electric and hybrid electric powertrain technologies being developed for light-duty applications. Increasing engine efficiency will remain a key focus of truck and engine manufacturers as the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions becomes a legislative requirement. Waste heat recovery and parasitic loss reduction technologies are expected to be seen on the majority of new truck models. The use of alternative fuels in the existing diesel powertrain offers the fastest route to reducing both GHG and exhaust emissions. Biofuels which can be blended with mineral diesel and easily integrated with the current infrastructure are likely to dominate the alternative fuels market. It is anticipated that over the next 5 to 10 years the choice of automotive fuels will diversify as countries move to utilise local biomass resource and increase their own energy security. Existing technical competencies, strategic assets, and R&D expertise puts established manufacturers in a good position to maintain their market position and also gain competitive advantage in emerging markets as they aim to implement stricter emissions legislation.