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This research sought to develop a dynamic charging system, achieving an unlimited EV cruising range by charging the EV at high power during cruising. This system would help make it possible to finish battery charging in a short time by contact with the EV while cruising and enable drivers to freely cruise their intended routes after charging. A simulation of dynamic charging conditions was conducted for ordinary autonomous cruising (i.e., ordinary EV cruising) when dynamically charging at a high power of 450-kW (DC 750 V, 600 A). This report discusses the study results of a method of building the infrastructure, as well as looking at the cruise test results and future outlook. In particular, the research clarified the conditions for achieving an unlimited vehicle cruising range with a 450-kW dynamic charging system. It also demonstrated that this system would allow battery capacities to be greatly reduced and make it possible to secure the battery supply volume and resources.

The use of electric vehicles (EV) is becoming more widespread as a response to global warming. The major issues associated with EV are the annoyance represented by charging the vehicles and their limited cruising range. In an attempt to remove the restrictions on the cruising range of EV, the research discussed in this paper developed a dynamic charging EV and low-cost infrastructure that would make it possible for the vehicles to charge by receiving power directly from infrastructure while in motion. Based on considerations of the effect of electromagnetic waves, charging power, and the amount of power able to be supplied by the system, this development focused on a contact-type charging system. The use of a wireless charging system would produce concerns over danger due to the infiltration of foreign matter into the primary and secondary coils and the health effects of leakage flux.

Japan Land Engine Manufacturers Association (LEMA) will apply its own voluntary regulation of the exhaust emissions of hydro-carbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and carbon monoxides (CO) from compression ignition engines of less than 19kW produced by LEMA member companies for domestic market. This paper introduces the progress of this voluntary regulation, explanation of the contents, and member organizations' technologies for compression ignition engines of less than 19kW.

We at Honda have been striving to develop fuel-efficient engine oils and applying them to models to have more and more fuel saving automobiles. To be more specific, the improvements have been done for mineral oil with High Viscosity Index (hereafter referred to as HVI) base oil. Our study with HVI base oil has continued and eventually led to development of an SAE 0W-20 grade engine oil that provides additional fuel savings. It showed a fuel economy improvement of 1.5%. Due to concerns about abrasion resistance and oil consumption related to the reduced oil viscosity, vehicle testing was conducted. That testing demonstrated these problems did not occur. Ultra low viscosity oil was studied separately. It has shown excellent fuel saving performance in innovative low friction engines designed with full consideration given to abrasion resistance.

It has long been sought to improve the low-friction properties and low-temperature viscometric characteristics of mineral oil based automotive manual transmission fluid(MTF), automatic transmission fluid(ATF), and power steering fluid(PSF). Because, however, It has been impossible to make such improvements on the mineral oil base,synthetic oils such as poly- α -olefin have been substituted to achieve the required improvements in the lubricants. But the synthetic oils have a drawback:high cost. Thus a new series of mineral oil based lubricants was investigated. These lubricants are made with high viscosity index mineral oil base stock that offers excellent low-temperature characteristics, which improve low-temperature viscosity (lowering of operation temperature by 5 to 10°C), a 5% reduction of friction torque in manual and automatic transmission and power steering pump and increased oxidation resistance.

High viscosity index(HVI) petroleum base stock, with excellent temperature-viscosity characteristics, oxidation resistance, and low-evaporation properties, offers advantages as the base stock for high fuel economy engine oils, particularly because of its low-friction properties in the boundary and/or “E.H.L (Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication)” area due to its rheological characteristics. This research evaluated HVI base stock's low-friction properties. Upgrading the oil from 5W-30 to 5W-20 was also investigated. The friction properties of the HVI base stock were measured by a unit friction platform. The results show a 28% reduction in friction coefficient compared with the conventional, solvent refined oil, which is attributable to the high-pressure viscosity of the base oil.