Electric car for cold districts（寒冷地向け電気自動車）

Tohoku University and Hirosaki University push forward research and development of electric car (EV) for cold districts in cooperation with two private enterprises in Sendai-shi.
It is equipped with a gas generation system for assistance to overcome a weak point of EV where the mileage of the freeze-up is reduced to half in comparison with the summertime, and what I make ministry part, light weight by controlling all the steering wheel operation by a digital code features it. I succeed in a driving test in northeastern Okatahira campus on April 27 and aim at the practical use within five years.
Professor Furuya (machine materials function studies) and Professor Shimada (electromagnetism engineering) of Hirosaki University performed the design, and one ノ storehouse professor (electromagnetism device) of Tohoku University was in charge of the wheel part, and Honda spirit airplane of Sendai-shi and two companies of the Kudo electric equipment cooperated with assembling.
Because the engine of EV is in a low temperature state, and performance declines; a temperature condition at the age of the zero degree it is said that can run, and it is in half of degree at the age of 25 degrees as for the distance. Therefore, it is equipped with gas generation and uses the EV engine at the time of the heating and start in the car for assistance, emergency charge.
In addition, I move a tire with a system "steering by wire" converting all the steering wheel operation to signals digitally. I become able to reduce the number of metal parts including the gear approximately 40%, and it is transmitted through the part, and heat prevents that I escape and can in this way tie it to the economy in power consumption. It is told practical use to take eight years, but aims at large shortening.
A car company of Toyota origin goes, and the Tohoku district attracts attention now as a car production base. Professor Furuya "the technique that is a medium and small-sized business, but can produce". I send a technique by university-industry research collaboration and show will when I want to tie it to job creation. I want to expect early practical use of EV which is usable in Shinshu that is the same cold districts.



東北大と弘前大が仙台市内の民間企業２社と連携し、寒冷地向け電気自動車（ＥＶ）の研究開発を進めている。
 　厳寒期の走行距離が夏場に比べて半減するＥＶの弱点を克服するため、補助用のガス発電システムを搭載したり、ハンドル操作を全てデジタル信号で制御することで省部品・軽量化したりするのが特徴だ。４月２７日には東北大片平キャンパス内で走行試験に成功し、５年以内の実用化を目指している。
　設計は、弘前大の古屋教授（機械材料機能学）と島田教授（電磁気工学）が行い、車輪部分は東北大の一ノ倉教授（電磁気デバイス）が担当、仙台市の本田精機と工藤電機の２社が組み立てに協力した。
　ＥＶのエンジンは低温状態では性能が落ちるため、気温条件が０度の時の走行可能距離は、２５度の時の半分程度になるという。このため、ガス発電を搭載し、車内暖房や起動時のＥＶエンジンを補助、緊急時の充電などに使う。
　また、ハンドル操作を全てデジタル信号化するシステム「ステアリングバイワイヤ」でタイヤを動かす。これにより、歯車など金属部品の数を約４割減らせるようになり、部品を伝わって熱が逃げるのを防ぎ、節電につなげる。実用化には８年かかると言われているが、大幅短縮を目指す。
 　東北地方は現在、トヨタ系自動車会社が進出するなど、自動車生産拠点として注目されている。 古屋教授は「中小企業でも生産可能な技術。産学連携で技術を発信し、雇用創出に結びつけたい」と意欲を示す。同じ寒冷地でもある信州で使えるEVの早期の実用化を期待したいですね。