| The need for reduced emissions vehicles and rising gasoline prices an increased amount of have driven electric vehicle research. All-electric and alternative fuel vehicles are the vision of many for the future of transportation, and vehicles that include hybrid technology are being realized today. There still exists a considerable amount of work and societal acceptance in order to fulfill society's requirement for a vehicle that is safe, efficient, and still performs as well as the vehicles used today. This dissertation provides research in the area of electric and alternative fuel (hydrogen) vehicles. A simple three element average value model of a fuel cell driving switching power electronics was experimentally developed, simulated, and tested. Simulation and experimental results show this model is feasible for designers of any system where fuel cells are used to provide energy for switching power electronics. The drive system of the electric vehicle was analyzed, and vector and scalar methods driving a permanent magnet synchronous motor were compared with each other and IC engines by the use of PSATRTM software. Finally, an electric vehicle power system test facility was designed, simulated, and fabricated to test power systems algorithms prior to implementation on experimental vehicles at the University of Alabama's Electromechanical Systems Laboratory (EMSyL). |
