Automakers Show Interest in an Unusual Engine Design

The Scuderi engine could substantially improve fuel consumption by storing compressed air.

 

BY KEVIN BULLIS

$50 million engine: It took Scuderi Group most of the $65 million it’s raised so far to develop just one engine, the prototype shown here. It’s a split-cycle two-cylinder engine, in which one cylinder compresses air and the other combusts a fuel-air mixture. 

Credit: Scuderi

Scuderi's Split-Cycle Engine Scuderi Group

An engine development company called the Scuderi Group recently announced progress in its effort to build an engine that can reduce fuel consumption by 25 to 36 percent compared to a conventional design. Such an improvement would be roughly equal to a 50 percent increase in fuel economy.

Sal Scuderi, president of the Scuderi Group, which has raised $65 million since it was founded in 2002, says that nine major automotive companies have signed nondisclosure agreements that allow them access to detailed data about the engine. Scuderi says he is hopeful that at least one of the automakers will sign a licensing deal before the year is over. Historically, major automakers have been reluctant to license engine technology because they prefer to develop the engines themselves as the core technology of their products. But as pressure mounts to meet new fuel-economy regulations, automakers have become more interested in looking at outside technology.

A conventional engine uses a four stroke cycle: air is pulled into the chamber, the air is compressed, fuel is added and a spark ignites the mixture, and finally the combustion gases are forced out of the cylinder. In the Scuderi engine, known as a split-cycle engine, these functions are divided between two adjacent cylinders. One cylinder draws in air and compresses it. The compressed air moves through a tube into a second cylinder, where fuel is added and combustion occurs.

Splitting these functions gives engineers flexibility in how they design and control the engine. In the case of the Scuderi engine, there are two main changes from what happens in a conventional internal-combustion engine. The first is a change to when combustion occurs as the piston moves up and down in the cylinder. The second is the addition of a compressed-air storage tank.

 

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Why Are Modern Cars So Expensive?

 Mike Allen @  Popular Mechanics points out that cars have never been cheap, but with the ubiquity of computers and electronics, taking a car to the shop is more expensive than ever.

The Price of Progress

Then: Tapered Roller Wheel Bearing Set
Cost: $20
Now: Sealed Wheel Bearing Set
Cost: $150

Sealed tapered roller bearings are not only structurally stronger, they also don't require periodic greasing or fussy clearance adjustments. And they allow the manufacturer to streamline the production—no mess or adjusting, just slap the cartridge onto the spindle in seconds. Upside for the consumer: They generally last the life of the car. 

Then: Key
Cost: $2.99
Now: Key Fob
Cost: $299 and up

The compelling reason for high-end key fobs is antitheft. The better fobs use a rolling code with millions of passwords that change with every start. Remote and proximity unlocking are just gravy. Seeing as how it's considered a luxury item, you pay through the nose. Work-around: Look in the aftermarket or on eBay for replacements, although you may still require the dealer to program it. 

Then: Traditional Mineral-Based ATF
Cost: $2.99/qt
Now: Synthetic ATF +5
Cost: $7.99/qt

Higher underhood temperatures, locking torque converters with more heat-producing friction and the lowered maintenance expectations of consumers make car manufacturers specify synthetic fluid for use in their automatic transmissions. And many vehicles use as much as 12 to 14 quarts. Upside: The expensive stuff is supposed to last for the life of the vehicle. 

Then: Your Right Foot
Cost: Free
Now: ABS Controller
Cost: $600 and up

ABS controllers contain not only a lot of complicated electronics, but delicate high-pressure pumps to cycle the brakes off and on and eliminate locked wheels under braking. Rarely, a skillful driver can match the ABS's prowess, but who has that presence of mind in a panic stop? Aside from the controller, there are tone wheels and sensors that also need occasional replacement. 

Then: Sealed-Beam Headlight
Cost: 4.79
Now: Composite HID Lamp
Cost: $300 and up

Oddly enough, sealed-beam headlights were mandated in the 1940s to ensure that the reflectors didn't corrode and reduce lighting efficiency. Modern composite headlamps are generally much brighter and far less likely to be broken by a stone and usually integrate the turn signals. But they're very expensive to replace and can collect condensation and eventually haze over, requiring periodic polishing.

 

Read more: The Price of Modern Car Mechanics – Car Repair Price - Popular Mechanics