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Benchmarking and Modeling of a Conventional Mid-Size Car Using ALPHA (SAE Paper 2015-01-1140)
Citation:
NEWMAN, K. Benchmarking and Modeling of a Conventional Mid-Size Car Using ALPHA (SAE Paper 2015-01-1140). In Proceedings, 2015 SAE World Congress, Detroit, MI, April 21 - 23, 2015. SAE International, Warrendale, PA, SAE #2015-01-1140, (2015).
Impact/Purpose:
This paper presents the benchmarking, modeling and continued testing of a 2013 Chevy Malibu 1LS. During the initial benchmarking phase the engine and transmission were removed from the vehicle and tested and evaluated on separate test stands. Data from the benchmarking was provided to the ALPHA model to perform full vehicle simulations over several drive cycles and vehicle road loads. Subsequently, the vehicle was reassembled and underwent further evaluation to refine the inputs to the model. Vehicle test results & model outputs are compared, and lessons learned from the model validation are presented.
Description:
The Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) modeling tool was created by EPA to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of light-duty vehicles. ALPHA is a physics-based, forward-looking, full vehicle computer simulation capable of analyzing various vehicle types combined with different powertrain technologies. The ALPHA model has been updated from the previous version to include more realistic vehicle behavior and now includes internal auditing of all energy flows in the model. As a result of the model refinements, and in preparation for the 2017-2025 Light-Duty GHG rule mid-term evaluation (MTE), EPA is revalidating the model with newly acquired vehicle data.