What do you think about an air hybrid engine

[djv5150]

About a year ago I made a small investment in this company. I was wondering what the minds here think of this techknology. it should make the current hybrid tech obsolete and increase fule economy by almost double and reduce emissions up to 80% the current hybrid vehicles by useing just compressed air.
http://www.scuderigroup.com/

[SC Cheesehead]

Interesting stuff, Dave.

Gotta say, though, when I first saw the thread title, I thought AJ was back.... ;) ----------> :D

[thathotrodlincn]

I hope it works out for you.

[Vostok]

Would love to see this come out of the prototype stage. Hard to believe it or think too much about it until I see it happening.

[N40GL]

Interesting concept. I saw it this weekend at the Washington DC Auto Show. Sure is tiny! About a quarter the size of the 4-cylinder engine in my VW.

The guy I spoke with said that it hadn't yet attracted any significant (whatever that means) manufacturers, but they were hopeful.

[sailsmen]

The current engine has been developed and refined over 100 years resulting in what we have today, a very reliable and low maintenance means of power.

Any new technology will be held to todays standard by the consumer. This requires an enormous amount of R&D.

The Rotary engine was also hailed as a break through. Mass mfg limitations regarding the ability to seal the rotors reliably restricted the application.

The big issue with the automobile today is the platform evolved from an engine and 4 wheels by adding on, such as head lights, the add ons are now in the thousands to meet consumer and gov't demands.

Why isn't the trans, engine, intake, heads, alternator, etc one unit?

I hope they overcome any mass mfg limitations from the high compression and are able to get the auto mfg to make the retooling investment required to make them on a mass basis.

[Blackened300a]

Gotta say, though, when I first saw the thread title, I thought AJ was back.... ;) ----------> :D

You weren't the only one. :D

[RacerX]

The act of using a cylinder to compress other cylinders has been done long ago, just an internal supercharger really. The whole thing as a package and not just some back yard garage project looks really interesting though. Good luck!

[Big Black Beast]

It can also be done hydraulically, and is alot simpler and lighter than an electric system.

[Fosters]

That seems interesting... wonder what would happen if you couple that with the air conditioning charge cooling system off the Ford Lightning concept a few years ago... or a CO2 based intercooler sprayer... That mileage stuff is nice too, but I wanna see a 5.0 liter W16 or something like that... 8)