The ITE Research Group in Japan has developed low-lead long-life batteries using an organic polymer activator "Super-K". Some preliminary test results of the low-lead batteries have been made for 3,000 batteries in Japan and Middle East countries. The results were excellent. Therefore, we decided to perform large scale tests for 100 to 500 trucks, buses, taxies and regular cars in various parts of the world for low-lead batteries with 25-50% reduction of electrode plates.

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This report describes the design, manufacturing, analysis, control, and experimental activities in which a student conducted for a motor-powered tiller for house gardening work. In Japan, the engagement in agricultural business was decreased to 50% during the past 20 years, and labor-saving and efficiency has been demanded. Besides, the elderly engagements are about 50 %. In this research, a student in the Kochi University of Technology, a former graduate student, selected the development of an electric powered tiller, since he is concerned with ecology, agriculture, and engineering. Engineering education for mechanical engineering needs the practical design and manufacturing, since design and manufacturing is the key of engineering. The first objective is the design and manufacturing of a tiller which elderly engagement can easily handle by a rotary body part and going up and down mechanical part of nails. The second is stress analysis, control experimental confirmation of the tiller. In this project, I would report the activity of the design, manufacturing, analysis, control, and experimental work, which is thought to be an appropriate engineering education.

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The voltage of every battery module in series connected battery pack is important for diagnosing the battery pack, estimating the state of charge (SOC) of the pack and equalizing the pack in the battery management system (BMS). This paper introduces a method based CPLD for measuring the voltage of the battery module in series connected battery pack. The design and realization is also presented in detail. This method is already used successfully in BMS for EV and HEV.

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The driving and charge-discharge tests were carried out on the used lead-acid batteries for electric wheel chair. When the used batteries were repeatedly subjected to driving test on road after full charge, the electricity delivered from the battery during driving was gradually decreased. This battery was discharged at 90A after full charge, the driving time was increased because of the improvement of sulfation by the discharge at higher current. The batteries with/without activator were tested to confirm the effect of activators under the similar charge-discharge conditions as that in driving on road.

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This work shows the development of an electronic system for the control and the management of a hybrid configuration of generation of energy, based on the use of a PEMFC fuel cell stack (50W) and a supercapacitors module. In order to achieve this aim, a Buck DC-DC converter and an electronic control unit (ECU) based on a microcontroller have been set in the electronic system. The ECU controls the DC-DC converter by adapting the voltage given by the fuel cell to the voltage required by the electronic speed regulator of the truck. Moreover, it limits the extraction of energy from the fuel cell according to its electrochemical behaviour. Two digital PID regulators in closed loop are used for the control. They keep the power extracted from the fuel cell constant and limited by regulating the converter, either at constant voltage (CV) or at constant current (CC). Finally, the ECU regulates the fan speed according to the current which is extracted from the fuel cell, in order to provide enough amount of oxygen inside the cell. A supercapacitors module (7.5V, 66.6F) has been installed between the DC-DC converter and the electronic speed regulator of the truck so as to provide the necessary energy during the load peaks required in the start-up or in the acceleration. The supercapacitors will be recharged by the fuel cell stack as soon as the demand of the vehicle decreases and there is an excess of energy. In order to identify faults in the system, as well as to refine and optimize the control algorithm, the ECU keeps a record of all the variables of the system, such as the temperature of the fuel cell stack and the room temperature, the voltage of all the cells, the voltage and current extracted form the stack, the voltage and the current given by the DC-DC converter, the speed of the fan which provides the stack with air, and the activation of the hydrogen purge valve with respect to time.

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In recent years, Japanese automobile makers have been active in carrying out studies for tackling pollution in the environment. A reduction in the volume of traffic is now an indispensable topic of traffic conditions. Therefore, studies were made regarding a review of the history of an upgrade from streetcars to LRT (Light Rail Transit), the present situation of the prosperous introduction of LRT systems into various Western cities during recent years, and in addition, research concerning improvements and action for the maintenance of streetcars and LRT. As a result, it can be understood that the history of the abolition of the streetcar in the West resembles the same trend in Japan. However, due to a revival in the West, the position of the streetcar/LRT has recently become a part of urban transport system. Also, vitalization of the transport system to provide improved relations with automobiles, upgraded convenience, and activation in central city areas is being carried out. Although, a review of streetcar/LRT is gradually being performed in Japan, the law system and aspects of business in Japan are not equal to those in the West. Therefore, it can be said that an important subject is the substantiality of the law system in Japan and the pursuit of its improvement.

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Since 1955, ITE Research Group worked for new type of additive activators for lead-acid batteries to extend the life. The activator now becomes almost perfect. Therefore, we tried three main areas of its application: (1) addition to new batteries, (2) extension of the battery life for batteries under use, and (3) regeneration and reuse of replaced batteries. In this short communication, the financial size of the three businesses is estimated.

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