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A simple but reasonably accurate battery model is required for simulating the performance of electrical systems that employ a battery for example an electric vehicle, as well as for investigating their potential as an energy storage device. In this paper, a relatively simple equivalent circuit based model is employed for modeling the performance of a battery. A computer code utilizing a multi-objective genetic algorithm is developed for the purpose of extracting the battery performance parameters. The code is applied to several existing industrial batteries as well as to two recently proposed high performance batteries which are currently in early research and development stage. The results demonstrate that with the optimally extracted performance parameters, the equivalent-circuit based battery model can accurately predict the performance of various batteries of different sizes, capacities, and materials.

Forty-five drivers of late model cars equipped with advanced driver-information systems (trip computers, phones, etc.) participated in 4 focus groups, 2 in Los Angeles and 2 near New York City. The purpose of the groups was to determine driver attitudes toward existing, high-technology, driver-information systems and what drivers might want in future cars. Drivers wanted systems that would give them (1) advance information about vehicle malfunctions (such as a warning about low oil, not just a failure light) and (2) navigation information. Drivers complained about current systems that divert their attention from driving, especially entertainment systems (“the buttons are too small”) and cellular phones (drivers weaving in traffic). There were reports of accidents and near accidents associated with use of in-vehicle systems and maps.