HyBoost Car Aims for 30-40 Percent CO2 Reduction Without Performance Compromise

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., -- Ricardo, Inc., the US subsidiary of Ricardo plc, the leading independent provider of technology, product innovation and engineering solutions to the world's automotive, defense, transport and new energy industries, has announced today further details of the collaborative HyBoost project. This research program is led by Ricardo in the UK in partnership with Controlled Power Technologies, the European Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium, Ford, Imperial College London, and Valeo, to demonstrate the ultimate in gasoline engine fuel efficiency using practical and near market-ready technologies

The HyBoost project is a two-year research program, announced recently by the Technology Strategy Board, which aims to demonstrate a very cost-effective, ultra-efficient gasoline engine in a C-segment passenger car. The vehicle will offer the performance of a 2.0 liter model but with a real-world 30-40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions to below 100g/km. This is to be achieved through the synergistic application of an extremely downsized gasoline engine coupled with electrified boosting and exhaust gas energy recovery, micro-hybrid functionality with stop/start, torque assist and regenerative braking, and a novel energy storage technology.

The technologies to be incorporated in the HyBoost demonstrator vehicle will be restricted to innovations which are capable of practical production implementation in the near term; they must be constructed with readily available and affordable materials, and have the high scalability required by the automotive sector. The HyBoost project is supported by an investment from the UK Government-backed Technology Strategy Board with balancing resources provided by the project partners.

Commenting on the HyBoost project, Neville Jackson, Ricardo group technology director said: "HyBoost aims to demonstrate the very significant benefits that can be achieved using an intelligent combination of innovative technologies to deliver low carbon transport solutions. The stated targets of this research would enable a consumer-attractive "average car" to be offered with CO2 emissions well below the mandated future target set for the European fleet average without compromising vehicle performance"