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MAE 508 Automotive Power Systems

MAE 508 Automotive Power Systems

3 Credit Hours

TF
Tiegang Fang
Tiegang Fang

Professor and University Faculty Scholar

919-515-5230

This course will cover topics related to automotive power systems. In particular, this course provides fundamental concepts and knowledge on different power station options for automotive applications including internal combustion engines, battery electrical vehicles, engine/battery hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell powered vehicles.

Prerequisites

Status as a graduate student at NC State.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Explain common engine structure and operation characteristics
  2. Calculate and analyze the engine thermodynamic characteristics using air-standard cycles
  3. Calculate and analyze the chemical reaction for different fuels
  4. Identify fuel properties for different engines
  5. Analyze the air induction and fuel supply processes for both SI and CI engines
  6. Predict flame temperature and chemical equilibrium using first law analysis
  7. Analyze the combustion phenomena in SI and CI engines
  8. Analyze and calculate the emissions for SI and CI engines
  9. Compare the based operation principle of batteries and motors, and fuel cell
    systems
  10. Describe the basic structure of electrical vehicles
  11. Explain the operation principle and structure of hybrid powertrain and vehicles

Course Requirements

ComponentWeightDetails
Homework 10%HW assignments will be collected and graded.
Midterm-Exam30%A mid-term exam will be given.
Final Exam40%A final exam will be given.
Project20%A course project related to engine cycle analysis
will be collected and graded.

Textbooks

This textbook is required:

Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, by John B. Heywood, McGraw-Hill, 1988 (1st edition) or 2018 (2nd edition) Cost Range: $20 (used) – $299 (new).

These three are suggested reference reading books:

  • The Romance of Engines, by Takashi Suzuki, 1997, SAE International
  • Internal fire, by C.L. Jr Cummins, 1989, SAE International
  • Hybrid, Electric and Fuel-Cell Vehicles, 1st Edition, by Jack Erjavec and Jeff Arias, 2007, ISBN13: 978-1401881085

Created: 10/13/2026.