The University of Tennessee’s Innovation Project: Integrated Converter

The University of Tennessee’s EcoCAR 3 innovation team is working to design a new power converter that will improve the performance of electric vehicles (EVs). The team is working to merge two existing power converters – the powertrain boost and isolated DC-DC converter of the on-board charger – into a new integrated converter – that will be cheaper, smaller, and more efficient.

“The powertrain and on-board charger on EVs today have separate packaging. However, when the vehicle is in charging mode, the powertrain converters are idle and when the vehicle is in traction mode, the on-board charger converters are idle,” said Saeed Anwar, PhD student and UT’s Innovation Team Lead. “With the demand of fast charging and longer driving range, the EV chargers require at least 6.6 kW power flow requirement which is known as “level two charging.” By combining power converters of powertrain system and on-board charging system, the amount of power switches, magnetics, capacitors and heat sinks can be reduced.”

Team Tennessee is working to gain advantages from the integrated converter and to address the design challenges for the integration. With the reduction of the number of power switches, magnetics, capacitors, and heat sink, the cost, converter weight, and volume can be reduced significantly. Ultimately, this integrated converter will save volume in EVs, which can be used as cargo space or extra battery space that would provide higher driving range.

The post The University of Tennessee’s Innovation Project: Integrated Converter appeared first on Ecocar 3.

via Tumblr https://markgreeley576.tumblr.com/post/163751903042

This ‘Trippy Tippy Hippy Van’ Will Have You… Trippin’ [Video]

Dubbed the “Trippy Tippy Hippy Van” (say that five times fast), the van was the brainchild of Jeff Bloch AKA Speedycop. As you may have guessed, Jeff is a cop who also enjoys cars and this latest creation showcases the latter and his desire to make something fun. Needless to say, Speedycop succeeded and the fun was palpable as the “Trippy Tippy Hippy Van” took to the track at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.

The post This ‘Trippy Tippy Hippy Van’ Will Have You… Trippin’ [Video] appeared first on GAS MONKEY GARAGE | RICHARD RAWLINGS | FAST N LOUD.

via Tumblr https://markgreeley576.tumblr.com/post/163732003682

Hyperloop Hits Speed Three Times Faster Than May Test [Video]

After the lackluster first-run left speed junkies wanting more, Hyperloop One delivered in their second phase of testing. The run took place at the company’s DevLoop Tube north of Las Vegas in the Nevada Desert, where the XP-1 pod achieved far greater distances and speeds than the initial test in May.

At a distance of 1,433 feet the XP-1 traveled 4.5 times further and using that extra distance to hit a top speed of 190mph, three times greater than May. While the tube still hasn’t matched the 250mph top speed range of the top production cars, it has crushed highway speed limits. However, the Hyperloop One team maintains that with another 2000 meters the XP-1 would have hit 700mph.

The post Hyperloop Hits Speed Three Times Faster Than May Test [Video] appeared first on GAS MONKEY GARAGE | RICHARD RAWLINGS | FAST N LOUD.

via Tumblr https://markgreeley576.tumblr.com/post/163722050812

NASCAR Makes Rule Change To Increase Competition

Those who watch NASCAR have become accustomed through the years to seeing the top drivers regularly duck out of the top series to catch a Friday or Saturday race in one of the lesser series. However, beginning with the 2018 season the opportunities for drivers with Monster Energy Series experience to race in the lower-divisions will be reduced.

The moved which is aimed at keeping the lower-divisions more competitive will keep drivers with more than five years experience in the Monster Energy Series from racing in more than seven XFINITY races, down from 10 this year, and five Camping World Truck races, a decrease of two from 2017.

RELATED: GMG Takes You Trackside At The Daytona 500

Additionally, those drivers with five or more years and who are earning championship points in the Monster Energy Series will not be allowed to compete in the regular season finales or playoffs of XFINITY or Camping World Truck Series. Overall the change seems to be the right move by NASCAR as they appear to be putting racer development and competition ahead of short term profit by having big name talent compete across all races.

Additionally, those drivers with five or more years and who are earning championship points in the Monster Energy Series will not be allowed to compete in the regular season finales or playoffs of XFINITY or Camping World Truck Series. Overall the change seems to be the right move by NASCAR as they appear to be putting racer development and competition ahead of short term profit by having big name talent compete across all races.

The post NASCAR Makes Rule Change To Increase Competition appeared first on GAS MONKEY GARAGE | RICHARD RAWLINGS | FAST N LOUD.

via Tumblr https://markgreeley576.tumblr.com/post/163718276482

The Volvo PV Series, Gone But Never Forgotten

Throughout history cars have been in a sense time capsules representative of the state of affairs during their respective periods. Today, for instance, we’re seeing the dramatic shift toward electric and autonomous, both reflective of modern ideas toward the environment and technology. However, when the Volvo PV444 came to be the world was at war and the Swedish manufacturer recognized that in creating the sedan.

Released in 1947, after the war ended, the PV444 first began to take shape during the early years of WWII. At the time materials and fuel were being diverted to the war effort around the world so in an effort to create a car that could be successful in that climate Volvo conceived the PV444, with less materials and greater fuel economy. The two-door, four-passenger car would become a success for the manufacturer and continue to be produced until 1958 when it was phased out for the PV544.

At face value the PV544 appears to be more evolved verse the resource depleted styling of the PV444. An example being the replacing of the simpler two pane front window in favor of a single rounded piece of glass. However, most of the changes to the car occurred beneath the hood.

The 1958 PV544 featured a four-speed transmission, up from the three, but the rest of the upgrades to the PV544 didn’t occur until around 1962. It was at that time the B16 engine was replaced by the four cylinder 1.8-liter B18 which would remain the engine of choice through 1966. That year would also mark the end of the PV444/PV544’s 18 year run.

[For more information and pictures visit here.]

The post The Volvo PV Series, Gone But Never Forgotten appeared first on GAS MONKEY GARAGE | RICHARD RAWLINGS | FAST N LOUD.

via Tumblr https://markgreeley576.tumblr.com/post/163691171172

Mustang GT Comes With V8 Quieting Function For Fun Haters

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has already made waves as the fastest Mustang GT ever, but now Ford is giving owners the ability to throttle down the beastly V8.

Utilizing a Quiet Start or “Good Neighbor Mode” drivers can now schedule the time of day they want their GT to roar verse when they may want it to merely purr. Selected using a toggle on the steering wheel the Quiet Start function is an industry-first option which coupled with the GT’s Quiet Exhaust insures you won’t wake the neighbors. You know, if you’re the considerate type when if comes to your all-new Mustang GT.

The post Mustang GT Comes With V8 Quieting Function For Fun Haters appeared first on GAS MONKEY GARAGE | RICHARD RAWLINGS | FAST N LOUD.

via Tumblr https://markgreeley576.tumblr.com/post/163683669052

Dodge Viper ACR Goes For Ring Record In Last Hurrah [Video]

As the death of the Dodge Viper is rapidly approaching, shutting the factory doors August 31, a group has set out to send it off into the sunset with the Nurburgring record for a production car lap.

The footage shows the team’s most recent run of 7:03.45 which is still a good 10-seconds off the Lamborghini Huracan Performance record, but the Viper ACR does come up with the record for: fastest American-made production car lap, fastest RWD production car lap and fastest manual gearbox production car lap. The latter record makes for a truly amazing video as driver Dominik Farnbacher is in a constant battle with track, car and manual gearbox.

The post Dodge Viper ACR Goes For Ring Record In Last Hurrah [Video] appeared first on GAS MONKEY GARAGE | RICHARD RAWLINGS | FAST N LOUD.

via Tumblr https://markgreeley576.tumblr.com/post/163678713452