How to save fuel and cut emissions - at a stroke
A new car engine that switches between a two-stroke and a four-stroke modes promises to reduce fuel consumption by one quarter.
University of Brighton researchers are working on the 2/4Car which allows the engine to switch to two-stroke at low load and speed and then back to a four-stroke at high loads.
Two-stroke petrol engines produce more power for their size but their designs can’t meet durability or pollution control requirements. The 2/4Car uses a fuel imput system that eliminates both the durability and the pollution problems.
The research is led by Ricardo Professor of Automotive Engineering in the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, Morgan Heikal; and the system has been designed and patented by Ricardo plc, the leading technology provider and strategic consultant to the vehicle industry.
Neville Jackson, visiting professor and Ricardo's group technology director, said: "We have had a lot of interest from car firms. The engine could become a real option for more fuel-efficient vehicles."
