| Title |
EVALUATION OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID 3-WHEELED VEHICLES FOR HANDLING AND STABILITY. VOLUME II: TECHNICAL REPORT
|
| Accession No |
00368303 |
| Authors |
VAN VALKENBURGH, P G; Klein, R H; Szostak, H T |
Corp. Authors
/ Publisher |
Systems Technology, Incorporated  ; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
| Publication Date |
19810900 |
| Description |
133 p.;
Appendices; Figures; References(11); Tables |
| Abstract |
This report describes the results of a project to determine the handling, stability, and braking characteristics of 3-wheeled vehicles, and how they compare to small 4-wheeled vehicles. Analysis and full-scale tests of four 3-wheeled electric and four 3-wheeled gasoline vehicles were performed. The test vehicles were selected from an extensive survey of candidates and included both 2-front/1-rear wheel and 1-front/2-rear wheel configurations. Two vehicles from each class were selected and tested for steady-state understeer, transient steering response, rollover, crosswind sensitivity, straight brake, brake in turn, and double lane change maneuvers. Results were compared between vehicles and across vehicle groups. The results from all maneuvers indicate that there are no fundamental differences in most handling characteristics between groups. The one significant exception is steady-state oversteer/understeer at the limit of adhesion. It appears that while the 2-front/1-rear configuration has an inherent tendency toward understeer at the limit, the 1-front/2-rear configuration has an almost insurmountable tendency toward oversteer. Although one of the 3-wheelers could be easily overturned, the best 3-wheeler was better than the best 4-wheeler. In summary, a properly engineered 3-wheeler can be made as stable as a properly engineered 4-wheeler. |
| TRT Terms |
Braking performance ; Driving ; Maneuvering ; Motor vehicles ; Rollover accidents ; Stability (Mechanics) ; Steering ; Three wheeled vehicles ; Vehicle tests |
| Other Terms |
Rollover; Vehicle handling; Vehicle stability; Vehicle testing |
| Contract Number |
DOT-HS-9-02309 |
| Report Number |
TR-1158-1 Final Rpt.; HS-806 093 |
| Availability |
National Technical Information Service |
| Document Source |
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
|
| TRIS Files |
HSL |
| Database |
TRIS Online |
TRT
