In the recent years, there have been drastic changes in the earth’s climate due to GLOBAL WARMING.
The average global air temperature on the Earth's surface had increased 0.74 ± 0.18 (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the last hundred years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-twentieth century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations via the greenhouse effect”. The greenhouse effect is due to the greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases Increasing global temperature will cause sea level to rise, and is expected to increase the intensity of extreme weather events and to change the amount and pattern of precipitation. Other effects of global warming include changes in agricultural yields, trade routes, glacier retreat, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.
The biggest blame for this is given to the automobile. So, a lot of new technologies are being developed to reduce the pollution caused by it. One such technology is HYBRID TECHNOLOGY.
Hybrid Technology uses two sources of power to propel the vehicle forward instead of one. Generally an electric motor is used to drive the vehicle at low speeds. The advantage of the motor is its higher efficiency at low speeds compared to the engine running at the same speed.
Hybrid Technology has become highly successful in cars, improving the efficiency and reducing the pollution. In our project we are implementing the same hybrid technology on two wheelers. Our hybrid is based on the HONDA ACTIVA, the alternative power source is a 24V DC motor generating 1.3Hp. Since the motor used is a series wound motor it provides high torque at low speed, thus ensuring high efficiency in stop and go traffic frequently encountered in urban areas. The IC engine has its maximum efficiency in the speed range of 40-60 KMPH so it is used in the normal cruising speed.
For this, we modified an Activa and built a parallel belt drive for the motor to enable it to power the rear wheel. Separate speed control is designed for the motor and built under the conventional accelerator of the vehicle. The motor is powered by a battery pack which can be charged when the vehicle is not in use ( Plug In Hybrid ) switching from electric to engine drive is facilitated by a microcontroller with is provided with an input from the vehicle’s speedometer.
This design is ideal for urban traffic condition, where 20 -30% of the fuel is wasted in idling. Since the motor only uses the battery power when required this wasted power can be saved. This further cuts down on the pollution.