PhD Thesis - Cranfield University

Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
“ Many precede and many will follow ” – anonymous
In this chapter, a broad literature survey on electric vehicle research is first presented
followed by a review on the specific topic of vehicular power and energy management.
Subsequently, an introduction of an upcoming electric vehicle enabling technology,
identified as the ‘ultracapacitor’ is presented. Ultracapacitor technology and ongoing research
efforts in ultracapacitor hybridisation methods are then examined. Focusing on the
prospects of augmenting battery system with ultracapacitor technology in electric vehicle
power system architectures, the survey then directs emphasis to literature on hybridised
systems having at least one component of its energy storage arrangement consisting of
ultracapacitors. Power management, energy management as well as the power electronic
interfacing issues involved in a battery-ultracapacitor system are discussed to draw attention
to the research objectives and challenges of this work.
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