Vehicular electric power systems [book review]

In the automotive industry, the direction is toward increased use of electricity to improve fuel efficiency, emissions, reliability, and consumer demand for on-board electronics. Hybrid systems use electric motor assist for propulsion with battery storage energy from various possible sources, including inductive recharging from home power, regenerative braking, or fuel cells, among others. There was a great deal of research, begun by the automotive manufacturers, on increasing system voltage from the conventional 12 to 42 Vdc. This has subsequently been stopped because of the significant cost increases that would need to be passed on to the consumer. Presently, the direction is toward hybrid gas/electric motors for improved fuel economy. This book, Vehicular Electric Power Systems, presents a description of the latest systems being proposed for electric power conversion in automobiles, aircraft, boats, and spacecraft. The authors provide a good comparison between presently used conventional systems and new systems along with the fundamental issues holding back some of the proposed technologies. The book, consisting of 13 chapters, begins with a good review of conventional and advanced power electronics fundamentals and electric machines. These cover AC/DC, DC/DC, DC/AC, and AC/ AC converters and advancements in power electronics and motor drives. The next two chapters cover automotive power systems, including a comparison of conventional drive systems to hybrid electric cars. By illustrating the various drive distribution systems being proposed and their design tradeoffs, the reader gets a good understanding of the road blocks presently facing designers. Descriptions not only include propulsion systems themselves but also cover ancillary systems, such as power-assist steering and braking systems, needed to improve efficiency. Other chapters cover advanced power generation systems for aircraft and electric ships. Regarding the international space station, the primary technology discussed is photovoltaic (PV) systems with batteries and flywheel technologies as secondary energy sources. There is an extensive review of spacecraft power system architecture with emphasis on PV power conversion techniques and system stability analysis. Sea and undersea power systems cover various power system architectures along with power management centers and distribution, new motors. One chapter is devoted to descriptions of the fuel cell technologies along with typical current-voltage curves and performance for the various types of cells. The end of the book contains some of the more practical and more specific information on modeling batteries, PV cells, ultracapacitors, and fuel cells along with detailed motor drive descriptions. The authors present excellent reviews of proposed technology, which is particularly useful, as it is compared with conventional technology. One potential issue with presenting up-and-coming technology is the potential that it will not be completed. This appears to be the case with 42Vdc conversion. So, although there is some lack in being up-to-date, as 42V power net systems are no longer emphasized in automotive, the book is still an excellent way for an engineer, manager, or student in the area of electric vehicle propulsion and power systems to learn about new technologies and road block issues.