Vehicle Lecture - Practice Questions

1. What are the primary forces that need to be overcome to drive a

vehicle?
Answer: The primary forces include rolling resistance, climbing resistance, aerodynamic
drag, inertial drag, and mechanical losses in the drivetrain.

2. How does rolling resistance affect vehicle performance, and what

factors influence it?
Answer: Rolling resistance is a result of tire deformation and is proportional to vehicle
weight. Factors like tire pressure, temperature, type, and road surface affect rolling
resistance.

3. What is the formula for calculating aerodynamic drag, and which

factors influence it?
Answer: The formula is Fa = 0.5 * r_air * v² * S * Cx, where r_air is air density, v is vehicle
speed, S is frontal surface area, and Cx is the drag coefficient. Vehicle shape and speed
influence aerodynamic drag.

4. Why does a vehicle need a gearbox when powered by an internal

combustion engine (ICE)?
Answer: An ICE's power and torque depend on engine speed, and there is no torque at zero
RPM. A gearbox is needed to reduce speed and increase torque to match the vehicle's
requirements.

5. Explain the concept of final drive ratio and its importance in vehicle
performance.
Answer: The final drive ratio (typically 3.5-4.5) determines how power from the engine is
transferred to the wheels. It affects the vehicle's top speed, acceleration, and fuel efficiency.
6. What are the typical mechanical losses in a drivetrain, and how
efficient is it?
Answer: Mechanical losses in a drivetrain are due to friction and inefficiencies in
components like the gearbox. Driveline mechanical efficiency typically ranges from 80% to
90%.

7. How does vehicle speed affect fuel consumption in relation to

aerodynamic and rolling resistance?
Answer: At higher speeds, aerodynamic drag becomes the dominant factor, requiring more
power. Rolling resistance is more constant but still contributes to fuel consumption.

8. What is the relationship between engine torque, engine speed, and

tractive force?
Answer: Engine torque is transferred to the wheels through the gearbox and final drive
ratio, producing tractive force. Tractive force is inversely proportional to vehicle speed.

9. How does adding a super-overdrive gear (6th, 7th, etc.) affect vehicle
fuel efficiency?
Answer: A super-overdrive gear allows the engine to operate in a more fuel-efficient range
at high speeds, reducing fuel consumption while maintaining higher vehicle speeds.

10. What is the effect of downspeeding on engine efficiency?

Answer: Downspeeding, or operating the engine at lower speeds, reduces frictional losses
and improves fuel efficiency by keeping the engine within its most efficient operating range.

11. Why do electric vehicles (EVs) not require a gearbox, unlike ICE
vehicles?
Answer: EVs deliver high torque across a wide range of speeds, eliminating the need for
multiple gears to adjust torque and speed as in an ICE vehicle.

12. How does vehicle mass affect rolling resistance, aerodynamic drag,
and inertia?
Answer: A heavier vehicle increases rolling resistance and inertial drag. It also indirectly
increases aerodynamic drag by requiring more power to overcome the added forces.
13. What is the significance of using turbocharging and intercooling in
truck engines?
Answer: Turbocharging increases the air entering the engine, boosting power, while
intercooling reduces air temperature, improving efficiency and preventing engine knock.

14. What are the benefits of hybrid vehicles in reducing fuel

consumption?
Answer: Hybrids reduce fuel consumption by using electric motors for low-speed driving,
regenerating braking energy, and allowing the ICE to operate in its most efficient range.

15. Explain the concept of brake energy recovery in hybrid vehicles.

Answer: Brake energy recovery converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into electrical energy
during braking, which can be stored in the battery and used to power the electric motor.

16. How does vehicle gearing affect acceleration and fuel consumption?
Answer: Lower gears provide higher torque for better acceleration, while higher gears
reduce engine speed, improving fuel efficiency at higher speeds.

17. Why do trucks require more gears than passenger cars?

Answer: Trucks require more gears to optimize fuel efficiency and provide enough torque
for carrying heavy loads at different speeds. This allows them to operate efficiently across a
wide range of conditions.

18. What are the advantages and disadvantages of downsizing an engine?

Answer: Downsizing reduces engine weight and fuel consumption but can limit power and
acceleration. Turbocharging can mitigate the power loss by boosting engine output.

19. How do aerodynamic design and frontal area affect a vehicle's fuel
consumption?
Answer: A streamlined design and smaller frontal area reduce aerodynamic drag, improving
fuel efficiency by reducing the power needed to overcome air resistance.
20. What is the role of vehicle speed limits in determining fuel
consumption and emissions?
Answer: Lower vehicle speeds reduce aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption. High-speed
driving increases fuel consumption due to the cubic relationship between speed and
aerodynamic drag.

21. How do electric motors differ from ICEs in terms of torque curves and
efficiency?
Answer: Electric motors deliver maximum torque at low speeds and maintain high
efficiency across a wide range of speeds, whereas ICEs have limited peak efficiency and
require a gearbox to manage torque.

22. What are the key differences between parallel and serial hybrid
systems?
Answer: In parallel hybrids, the ICE and electric motor both drive the wheels. In serial
hybrids, the ICE generates electricity, and only the electric motor drives the wheels.

23. How does tire slip impact the transfer of tractive force to the wheels?
Answer: Tire slip reduces the effective transfer of tractive force to the wheels, decreasing
acceleration and potentially causing traction loss. It also leads to energy loss as heat.

24. How does the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) map help in
designing efficient vehicles?
Answer: The BSFC map shows the engine's fuel efficiency at different speeds and loads.
Designing the vehicle to operate within the low BSFC areas can maximize fuel efficiency.

25. What is the concept of 'right-sizing' in vehicle design?

Answer: Right-sizing involves designing vehicles with appropriately sized engines that
match the vehicle's usage needs, avoiding overpowered engines that operate inefficiently
most of the time.
 ("1. What does the road load diagram show about the relationship between vehicle speed
and required force?",

"The road load diagram illustrates how rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag change
with vehicle speed. It shows that as speed increases, aerodynamic drag becomes the
dominant factor, requiring more force to maintain higher speeds."),

("2. Based on the graph of aerodynamic drag vs. vehicle speed, why does aerodynamic
drag increase so sharply at high speeds?",

"Aerodynamic drag increases sharply at high speeds because drag is proportional to the
square of the vehicle's speed, and the power required to overcome drag increases with the
cube of the speed."),

("3. What can you infer from the 'islands' in the specific fuel consumption map when
comparing vehicle speed and fuel efficiency?",

"The 'islands' represent areas of high engine efficiency. The graph shows that fuel
efficiency improves at certain engine speeds and loads, highlighting the importance of using
the engine in its most efficient range for optimal fuel consumption."),

("4. How does the plot showing tractive force vs. vehicle speed explain the need for
multiple gears in a vehicle?",

"The plot shows that as vehicle speed increases, the available tractive force decreases.
Multiple gears are necessary to maintain sufficient tractive force across a range of speeds,
ensuring good acceleration and efficiency."),

("5. How does the gearbox gear ratio plot demonstrate the benefits of having more gears
in modern vehicles?",

"The plot shows that additional gears help keep the engine operating in its optimal
efficiency range while providing the needed torque at different speeds. This allows for
better acceleration at low speeds and improved fuel efficiency at higher speeds."),

("6. Looking at the aerodynamic resistance plot for different vehicle shapes, what can you
conclude about the impact of vehicle design on drag?",
 "The plot shows that streamlined vehicle designs significantly reduce the drag coefficient
(Cx), leading to lower aerodynamic drag. In contrast, boxy designs result in higher drag and
reduced fuel efficiency."),

("7. In the graph comparing top speed and required power for different cars, such as the
Ferrari 288 GTO and Bugatti Veyron SS, what relationship can you observe between
horsepower and top speed?",

"The graph shows that the required power increases exponentially with top speed. For
example, while a Ferrari requires 400 hp to reach 300 km/h, the Bugatti needs 1200 hp to
reach 430 km/h, illustrating the cubic relationship between speed and power."),

("8. How does the road load vs. engine map plot help in designing fuel-efficient vehicles?",

"This plot compares the required force to drive the vehicle with the available tractive
force from the engine. It helps in designing the gearbox and final drive ratio to ensure that
the engine operates in its most efficient range under typical driving conditions."),

("9. How does the 'saw tooth' diagram for engine speed vs. vehicle speed illustrate the
need for transmission in vehicles?",

"The 'saw tooth' diagram shows that engine speed fluctuates significantly with changes in
vehicle speed, making a transmission necessary to smooth out these fluctuations and keep
the engine operating efficiently."),

("10. From the plot of truck engine utilization, why are truck engines optimized for low-
speed, high-torque operation?",

"The plot shows that truck engines are designed to provide high torque at low speeds, as
trucks need to move heavy loads efficiently. Low-speed, high-torque operation also reduces
engine wear and fuel consumption over long distances."),

("11. In the plot showing fuel consumption vs. car speed, why does fuel consumption
increase dramatically at higher speeds?",

"The plot shows that at higher speeds, aerodynamic drag increases rapidly, requiring
more power from the engine. As a result, fuel consumption rises significantly as the vehicle
speed increases."),
 ("12. How does the truck gearing plot demonstrate the importance of having multiple
gears in heavy-duty vehicles?",

"The truck gearing plot shows that with 12 gears, the truck can maintain optimal engine
speed and fuel efficiency across various speed ranges, ensuring the engine operates in its
most efficient zone regardless of load or terrain."),

("13. What can you infer from the plot comparing ICE and electric motor performance
curves regarding their use in vehicles?",

"The plot shows that electric motors provide maximum torque at low speeds and
maintain high efficiency across a wide range of speeds, while ICEs have more limited
efficiency and require a gearbox to manage torque and speed."),

("14. How does the hybrid vehicle efficiency plot show the advantage of using hybrid
systems in urban driving?",

"The plot shows that hybrids avoid using the ICE in areas of low efficiency, instead
relying on electric motors during low-speed urban driving. This increases overall fuel
efficiency by keeping the ICE in its most efficient operating range."),

("15. From the real-world driving efficiency plot, why do legislated test cycles like the
NEDC and WLTC not represent the best use of engine efficiency?",

"The plot shows that during real-world driving, engine load and speed frequently fall
outside the most efficient areas on the engine map, which is not well represented by steady-
state test cycles like NEDC and WLTC."),