Experimental Study on Using Biodiesel in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Hybrid electric vehicles are essential in the automotive industry. Combining electric propulsion with biofuels to power the electric motor and the internal combustion engine offers enormous potential to reduce fuel consumption and polluting emissions. However, to operate efficiently, HEVs require an EMS that decides whether the vehicle is propelled by the combustion engine or the electric motor while managing power generation and the battery charge state. This work analyzes the use of biodiesel as a fuel in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). For this purpose, the mechanical behavior of a diesel engine was experimentally determined using a B10 blend to evaluate its power, torque, emissions, and operating behavior, such as temperatures and pressures. The engine used was a 2.5 L four-stroke with 131 hp at 3600 rpm to complete the efficiency map considering power, torque, and combustion. Finally, an energy management strategy based on an efficiency map is proposed. The results show that it is possible to use a specific operating range of the combustion engine with maximum efficiency while maintaining an optimal battery state of charge (SOC).