article thumbnail

ALTe Powertrain Technologies introduces range-extended electric powertrain system for E350s

Green Car Congress

There are currently more than 125,000 E350 vans of the 2004-2010 model years registered to corporate, government and utility fleet owners in the US. ALTe road tests showed that this E350 cutaway chassis prototype can drive approximately 25 miles in an all-electric mode and then deliver nearly 15 mpg in a charge-sustained mode.

Range 210
article thumbnail

Chrysler and EPA to partner on hydraulic series hybrid powertrain for light duty vehicles

Green Car Congress

The technology has shown substantial increases in fuel economy when compared with traditional powertrains in the same type of vehicles. The system produces power with engine torque driving a hydraulic pump that charges the high pressure accumulator of up to 5,000 psi (34.5 The prototype showed an 85% improvement in fuel economy.

Chrysler 218
article thumbnail

Panasonic to supply Li-ion battery cells for Ford’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles

Green Car Congress

The new Ford in-house Li-ion hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) pack delivers peak charge and discharge power of 35 kW, compared to 25 kW and 27 kW, respectively, in the older Fusion hybrid NiMH pack, said Chuck Gray, Chief Engineer - Ford Electrification Engineering, at the SAE Hybrid Vehicle Technologies Symposium. Atkinson from the earlier 2.5L

Li-ion 225
article thumbnail

Ford Begins EcoBoost Engine Production

Green Car Congress

EcoBoost technology combines turbocharging and direct gasoline injection to deliver up to 20% improved fuel economy, 15% fewer CO 2 emissions and superior driving performance compared with larger displacement engines. The EcoBoost line has a fully automated fuel-charging assembly and rundown station. liter V-8 family.

Ford 186
article thumbnail

Achates Power wins $9M from ARPA-E to develop gasoline compression ignition medium-duty multi-cylinder opposed-piston engine

Green Car Congress

Achates Power, founded in 2004, currently has six announced development projects underway spanning a variety of applications of its CI opposed-piston engine architecture, from light-to-heavy duty—all diesel. Leaner combustion. Optimally phased and faster combustion at equivalent pressure rise rate. Lower pumping work. Earlier post.)

Gasoline 150
article thumbnail

High Performance Computing key enabler for accelerating development of high efficiency engines

Green Car Congress

Current understanding and modeling capability of stochastic processes in engines remains limited and prevents designers from achieving significantly higher fuel economy, the workshop found. Achievable advances in engine technology can improve the fuel economy of automobiles by over 50% and trucks by over 30%.

Engine 291
article thumbnail

Envera LLC Nearing Completion of New Actuator Mechanism Project for Variable Compression Ratio Engine

Green Car Congress

A number of studies have concluded that fuel economy could be improved by about 30% with a combination of VCR, boosting and engine down-sizing. Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) Technology. Envera is currently developing a 1.85-liter liter VCR 4-cylinder engine with DOE sponsorship.

Engine 150