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A series hybrid electric vehicle was constructed using a compact car chassis for the 1992 Solar and Electric 500 competition. A computer model for simulation of the vehicle and event conditions was used to determine design and race strategy. Currently available small engines were compared before selecting a V-twin, four-stroke, OHV engine for the auxiliary power unit. Chassis dynamometer, test track, and race results are compared with expected performance.

Proper design of an engine's intake and exhaust system can offer the benefits of torque increase, fuel economy, and emission control. A new concept of intake airflow dynamics is presented, with a multiport model of an intake tube. Fluid transmission line dynamics are applied to a distributed parameter model of straight-tube manifold. This application proved itself to be an excellent way of analyzing the intake system predicting intake pressure waves of an internal combustion engine. With this modeling, transient and frequency responses are obtained to setup a design basis for the intake manifold.

Increased power outputs in high performance diesel engines are being obtained by the use of increased boost pressures obtained from the engine's turbochargers. Reduced compression ratio because of high boost tends to cause cold starting problems and white smoke at idle and light load, especially with a cold engine. One method of alleviating these problems is to make use of glow plugs in the engine cylinders. Applications of glow plugs include a glow plug ignited natural gas engine, methanol DI engine, and IDI and DI diesel engines. This paper describes a glow plug control system that actually controls the glow plug temperature directly. This new control system is better than the systems currently fitted to IDI diesel vehicles. The glow plug controller maintains a constant temperature at the glow plug without the use of any sensor external to the glow plug.