Adura Systems, Inc. (Adura Systems), a US-based green powertrain company, is introducing a new era electric Modular, Electronic, Scalable Architecture (MESA) powertrain with improved fuel economy and exceeding future emissions standards. The new MESA powertrain is for use in series hybrid, all electric and fuel cell mass transportation buses, large utility vehicles and other automotives provides fuel economy on par with SmartCars.
Adura Systems’ MESA powertrain features patent pending, highly modular systems electronics, an innovative intelligent control software platform and the scalable, field installable energy storage system that can be configured, depending upon users’ requirements, to provide 25, 50 or even 100 miles of initial travel in pure electric mode with subsequent travel in hybrid mode. Combined with an onboard microturbine generator for extended range, MESA dramatically lowers emissions and reduces operating costs for buses and large utility vehicles by 50% or more vs. standard diesel powertrains. MESA is slated for initial deployment in mass transportation hybrid buses in China, with U.S. implementations following.
“Until now, powertrain developments have been initiated more from a mechanical systems integration approach, resulting in marginal fuel economy advantages and relatively few miles of electric range,” said Marv Bush, CEO of Adura Systems. “Adura Systems’ team of world-class software and electronics engineers took a ground up approach with MESA, creating intelligent electronics, software and energy storage technology that is lighter weight, offers optimized electric range and at a lower total cost of ownership vs. other hybrids currently offered for heavy-duty vehicles. While our product can scale to many types of automotives, we are first pursuing heavy-duty buses and large utility vehicles as there is great demand from municipalities and government institutions for better solutions at lower acquisition costs that provide near zero emissions, greater fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance expenditures.”
First Deployment
The first deployment of MESA is to occur in China within the next 12 months. This milestone follows a partnership agreement formed between Adura Systems with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) in May 2008. Adura Systems is also negotiating contracts in the US.
Yonghe Huang of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center in Tianjin, China stated, “Adura Systems’ powertrain integrating the turbine in the hybrid-electric technology system will become a revolutionary ‘green’ ground transportation propulsion system for buses. The Chinese government is enthusiastic to support energy-saving technology for the automotive industry. We look forward to the technical cooperation with Adura Systems to contribute to China’s energy-saving goals in the automotive industry.”
Reduction in Emissions
While the automotive industry is challenged with meeting emissions standards for 2011, Adura Systems’ MESA already meets U.S. 2017 CAFÉ and Euro VI standards. In fact, due to its electric range and emissions friendly range extender Adura Systems’ MESA can save 37,000 tons of climate-changing emissions per eight year bus life. As an example, in China there are 1.3 million buses. If the existing diesel powertrains were replaced with MESA, it can equate to about 6.1 billion tons of reduced emissions per year. Adura Systems’ MESA delivers improvements in emissions and fuel economy as follows:
City buses can run around 100 miles/day in pure-electric mode
City buses traveling 130 miles/day with a 100 mile energy storage capacity will get an average of 50 miles per gallon (MPG) vs. traditional buses which operate around 5 MPG.
Emissions may be monetized at a cost of $10/ton. If so every bus containing MESA could generate $370,000 from emissions’ carbon credits.
Assumes conventional buses emit an average of 4,700 kg of emissions per 100,000 miles. Also consider that studies from around the world associate diesel bus emissions with aggravated asthma, lung inflammation, heart problems, possible cancer and premature death. Diesel bus riders tend to be exposed not only to outside emissions but to pollution that concentrates inside the bus due to engine operation.
Architecture
Adura Systems’ MESA consists of several key modules backed by patent-pending electronic and software technology enabling nearly 10X more electric range vs. other hybrid powertrains for mass transportation buses and large utility vehicles. These modules include:
mCtrl: This systems control optimally and intelligently manages and controls all aspects of the modular system. Designed from the ground up, the system features power management electronics and component electronics that control the MESA modular energy storage system (mStor), electric Generator module (mGen) and the electric motor module (mDrive). mCtrl is designed to ensure high reliability, overall system efficiency, serviceability, and fault tolerance.
mStor: This patent-pending, economical, scalable user installable energy storage system can be configured to provide 25, 50 or 100 miles of electric range in heavy transit buses. mStor modules can be easily added or subtracted to meet users’ varying electric mode requirements. The mStor modular battery system is fault tolerant, chemistry agnostic and allows the mixing of battery chemistries within the storage system.
mBridg is the interface between the System, the bus accessories and infotainment. It provides the driver interfaces and the near real-time automated systems maintenance diagnosis and reports for the driver and maintenance support staff.
mGen enables the use of diesel, microturbine and fuel cells as sources of onboard electricity generation. mGen intelligently charges the energy storage system modules (mStor) when low state-of-charge conditions arise.
mDrive: This electric motor provides propulsion to the bus and provides regenerative breaking. The system motor is optimally controlled by mCtrl to deliver smooth, efficient acceleration and breaking. There is no transmission—the motor connects directly to the driveshaft.
Kevin Mak, analyst, automotive electronics service at Strategy Analytics, Inc. noted, “Vehicle makers are facing severe challenges over emissions and fuel economy. Diesel engines offer good economy, but need costly after-treatment. Gasoline hybrids are expensive. Adura Systems’ modular hybrid approach, with its micro-turbine generator, is an innovative alternative that offers the potential to cut both emissions and costs.”