Flanders Make and VSCT join forces to perform research into green cars of tomorrow
VCST, a global designer and manufacturer of motors, drives and technological components, cooperates with Flanders Make on noise reduction.
European legislation imposes increasingly strict limits regarding the emission of damaging gases by vehicles. Accordingly, the automotive industry performs considerably research into green technology. They do this together with universities and research centres such as Flanders Make. VCST (Volvo Cars Sint-Truiden) is a global designer and manufacturer of motors, drives and technology components. They work closely together with Flanders Make on technologies for noise reduction in gearboxes.
ELIMINATING THE FEAR OF AN EMPTY BATTERY
Cars are today more comfortable, quieter and safer than 10 years ago. Initially, this also made them heavier, which in turn increased their fuel consumption. Today, we’ve reached a turning point. There is general consensus that green cars are the future. Electric and hybrid cars emit less or even zero CO2 and therefore reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
“There are two conditions that must be met to enable the widespread market introduction of electric drives”, says Dirk Torfs, CEO of Flanders Make. “On the one hand, the cost of the battery must decrease significantly and, on the other hand, this battery must also have a longer autonomy so that the fear of an empty battery is eliminated. We perform comprehensive research into these issues. Hydrogen fuel cells may be the next step. Still, we’re not quite there yet. It will take some time before this technology will be sufficiently mature and financially feasible. Meanwhile, it’s up to public authorities to stimulate such new technologies, for instance by allowing current electric cars to use bus lanes.”
Noise reduction
A major additional benefit of electric and hybrid cars is that they are quiet. However, this benefit also entails a potential problem for the safety of other road users and the driver’s comfort.
We’ve become so used to the sound of cars that – leaving aside extremely noisy vehicles – we’ve almost stopped registering it. And yet, we do listen to cars when cycling or walking on public roads. The engine noise helps us to estimate how far an approaching vehicle is still removed from us or to notice a vehicle approaching from behind. A study of the American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that accidents with pedestrians and electric cars might increase by 37% compared to accidents with pedestrians and cars with a conventional combustion engine. In the run-up to a fully electric vehicle fleet, the urban infrastructure and traffic policy will have to be adapted.
Another problem is the noise within the vehicle. Electric cars do not make noise but also cars with a conventional (or hybrid) combustion engine have become much quieter. As a result, other driving noises become more prominent and are often considered a nuisance. Flanders Make works together with KULeuven on a lightweight metamaterial that reduces noise and vibrations. It works as a sound-insulating headset: it eliminates the vibration noise by producing a substitute sound. Tests have shown that this metamaterial isolates equally efficiently as traditional isolation but at only half the weight. This is another way to reduce fuel consumption.
