The RevolutionX Vehicle Information Page

The RevolutionX

The RevolutionX is Team Tennessee's through-the-road parallel electric hybrid electric diesel SUV.  The Chevy Equinox is is a crossover SUV that is built on a car platform. The result is a passenger vehicle that has the storage capacity of an SUV that has better fuel economy and handling that are more like a car.

The main features of the RevolutionX are:

• 1.9 L Turbo diesel running B20 (20% blend of biodiesel with 80% traditional diesel fuel)
• 67kW Integrated transaxle from Ballard (Electric Motor)
• 288 V NiMH battery pack from Cobasys

The stock Equinox was all wheel drive and to keep with benefits of all wheel drive, the RevolutionX is a through-the-road parallel hybrid. The turbo diesel drives the front wheels and the electric motor drives the rear wheels and charges the battery pack during braking.

During normal braking the RevolutionX uses the electric motor to do the braking which causes the motor to act as a generator that can charge the NiMH battery pack. This type of braking is called regenerative braking, and is used to convert power that would otherwise be lost as heat between the brake pads and rotors. If the antilock brakes are engaged during an emergency, the control system does not allow any regenerative braking. Safety is more important than regenerative braking.

The charged battery pack can be used to power the electric motor when extra power is needed. The 67kW motor means that there is 90 HP on tap when ever it is needed such as climbing hills or entering the interstate. The control system determines when the motor is used and is  activated when the throttle is pushed to 80% of full throttle.

More information about the RevolutionX is available in the side menus.

UT Chevrolet Equinox Diesel HEV

Drivers            Shaun Hinds, Sean Peterson

Engine             1.9 Liter Turbo Diesel (B20)

Battery            228 V NiMH

MPG                20.39mpg ~34% gain over stock

Chassis           Unibody Theta Platform

Gearbox          6 speed manual

Suspension     Front: Gas-pressurized MacPherson strut front suspension with coil-spring design

                        Back: Four-link independent rear suspension with coil-spring design includes a trailing arm

Brakes            Four Wheel, four-channel ABS with electronic front-to-rear proportioning.

Total Weight  4312 LB