Energy test method for determining fuel consumption of a vehicle
First Claim
1. An energy test method configured to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing at least one sensor on the vehicle;
(b) connecting the at least one sensor to a data recorder;
(c) running a baseline test lap on a pre-determined circuit;
(d) using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the baseline test lap;
(e) modifying the vehicle;
(f) running a modified test lap on the pre-determined circuit;
(g) using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the modified test lap; and
(h) calculating a fuel savings between the modified test lap and the baseline test lap, wherein the step of calculating a fuel savings includes the steps of;
(i) using the data from the at least one sensor to calculate a theoretical energy consumption;
(ii) using the data from the at least one sensor to calculate actual energy consumption from fuel consumption measured;
(iii) calculating an energy ratio, the energy ration equal to the actual energy consumed divided by the theoretical energy consumed; and
(iv) using the energy ratio to calculate the fuel savings.
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Abstract
An energy test method configured to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of installing at least one sensor on the vehicle; connecting the at least one sensor to a data recorder; running a baseline test lap on a pre-determined circuit; using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the baseline test lap; modifying the vehicle; running a modified test lap on the pre-determined circuit; using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the modified test lap; and calculating a fuel savings between the modified test lap and the baseline test lap.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An energy test method configured to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) installing at least one sensor on the vehicle; (b) connecting the at least one sensor to a data recorder; (c) running a baseline test lap on a pre-determined circuit; (d) using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the baseline test lap; (e) modifying the vehicle; (f) running a modified test lap on the pre-determined circuit; (g) using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the modified test lap; and (h) calculating a fuel savings between the modified test lap and the baseline test lap, wherein the step of calculating a fuel savings includes the steps of; (i) using the data from the at least one sensor to calculate a theoretical energy consumption; (ii) using the data from the at least one sensor to calculate actual energy consumption from fuel consumption measured; (iii) calculating an energy ratio, the energy ration equal to the actual energy consumed divided by the theoretical energy consumed; and (iv) using the energy ratio to calculate the fuel savings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An energy test method configured to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) deploying sensors on the vehicle and connecting the sensors to a data recording system; (b) performing a baseline vehicle test along a pre-determined circuit, the baseline vehicle test including at least one lap around the pre-determined circuit; (c) using the data recording system to record data from the sensors during the baseline vehicle test; (c) modifying the vehicle by performing one or more actions; (d) performing a modified vehicle test along the pre-determined circuit, the modified vehicle test including at least one lap around the pre-determined circuit; (e) using the data recording system to record data from the sensor during the modified vehicle test; (f) downloading the baseline vehicle test data and modified vehicle test data; and (h) calculating a fuel savings between the modified vehicle test and the baseline vehicle test, wherein the step of calculating a fuel savings includes the steps of; (i) calculating theoretical energy consumption using data from the sensors; (ii) calculating actual energy consumption from fuel consumption measured by one of the sensors; (iii) calculating an energy ratio, the energy ration equal to the actual energy consumed divided by the theoretical energy consumed; and (iv) using the energy ratio to calculate the fuel savings. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An energy test method configured to determine fuel consumption of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) installing at least one sensor on the vehicle; (b) connecting the at least one sensor to a data recorder; (c) running a baseline test lap on a pre-determined circuit; (d) using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the baseline test lap; (e) modifying the vehicle; (f) running a modified test lap on the pre-determined circuit; (g) using the data recorder to record data from the at least one sensor while running the modified test lap; (h) calculating a fuel savings between the modified test lap and the baseline test lap; and (i) determining a fleet duty cycle and calculating a fuel savings for an entire fleet of vehicles, the step of determining a fleet duty cycle including the steps of; (i) recording distance and speed while the vehicle travels along the pre-determined circuit and dividing the recorded speed into multiple speed segments; (ii) calculating a duty cycle factor for each speed segment; and (iii) applying the duty cycle factor for each segment to determine a fuel savings for each speed segment.
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Specification