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University develops cheap, simple way to convert all cars into air-hybrids

 
2 2,948 views Mar 20, 2009

The idea taps into the engine's air pump function under deceleration

The idea taps into the engine's air pump function under deceleration

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A team from a west London university is claiming to have found the holy grail of the automotive world - a cheap, simple method to turn ordinary combustion engines into hybrid vehicles that run on air.

The team from the Institute of Engineering and Design at Brunel University have developed a way to harness the energy that is usually wasted when an engine uses its natural compression to decelerate. During this process, pistons in the engine can work to compress air, and eventually store this compressed air in a tank located in the car.

Then, at the appropriate time, the air will be used for possible turbocharging requirements or to power the pistons themselves, depending on what each engine required. Best of all, the technology is said to be simple and cheap, and that normal engines that we find in our cars today would only require small changes to become air hybrid cars.

Professor Hua Zhao, who is heading up the team, stated that the technology was a "major breakthrough", but it must be tested with vehicle manufacturers first to determine its viability.

This isn't the first time a group has been claiming to have developed a cheap, simple method of improving fuel economy, and often times claims like this one are treated with a healthy skepticism - however this time, considering the source of the technology, we're a little more confident that this air hybrid business may just make it off the chalkboard and into your car someday.



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Comments (2)

  1. ma_gus avatar Gus Chyba Posted: 3/20/2009 5:59pm PDT

    Yes, definitely, harnessing the power from slowing down is a great idea...
     
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  2. ma_Chris avatar Chris Posted: 3/21/2009 7:25am PDT

    gus.. thats what a typical electric hybrid does... :p

    but yeah.. this is definitely huge.. ill admit that some of the tech that are coming down the pipe for mechanical drive systems will delay the inevitable electric revolution.

    between compression ignition, forced induction, and now using this back pressure to power turbos, id say the mechanical engineers are definitely fighting back hard.

    though it has to be realized that you can power forced induction electrically, and on a series hybrid (such as the volt) where the ICE never drives the vehicle, just blowing off that back pressure eliminates the waste in the first place.
     
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