Hybrid vehicles have become more and more popular in the U.S. since Toyota introduced the Prius. This fuel efficient vehicle is equipped with a small engine that is powered commonly by gasoline. Its fuel efficiency is due to the use of an electric motor which supplies the additional power to aid the engine.
While a small engine may not be suitable for some driving conditions, the electric motor powered by an on board battery pack makes the power produced by the small engine adequate enough. But designers and engineers in the auto industry are constantly looking for ways to improve the performance of a hybrid vehicle. Turbodyne Technologies Inc. is one of the companies looking for ways to improve the performance of hybrid cars. Recently, the company announced that they have developed a new technology which is aimed to help hybrid vehicles perform even better.
Turbodyne has improved the design of the Turbodyne TurboFlow(TM) electronic air injection system. The technology is aimed for use by hybrid vehicles. “It’s clear that hybrid vehicle production is experiencing significant growth,” says Al Case, the Chief Executive Officer of Turbodyne. “”The biggest challenge is maximizing engine output while maintaining fuel economy. That’s where the opportunity lies for the Turbodyne TurboFlow(TM) air injection system,” Case added.
The TurboFlow technology differs from turbochargers and superchargers by the absence of mechanical linkages. That is because the Turbodyne TurboFlow air injection system uses an electric motor to operate the air compressor which in turn supplies air to the engine.
By eliminating the mechanical linkages, the air injection system is made better than turbochargers or superchargers. Superchargers need power from the engine to operate the air compressor and this means that the power generated by the engine will be reduced.
Turbochargers, on the other hand, use gas exhaust to force air to the combustion chamber. This means that when there is significantly less exhaust gas, like for instance when starting a car, the turbocharger cannot help the engine. Both the engine power reduction and lack of take-off power problems are solved by the Turbodyne TurboFlow(TM) air injection system.
Since hybrid vehicles are known to have a good storage of electrical energy, it makes sense that the new air injection system for hybrid vehicles is powered by electricity. Since the Turbodyne TurboFlow(TM) air injection system is not dependent on the engine, it can be used throughout a driving cycle. It is specifically designed to provide air into small displacement engines like those used on hybrid engines.
This new technology will further increase the performance of the fuel efficient vehicles. This could mean that hybrid vehicles will be continuing their domination of the auto industry in the future. From the way things look, hybrid vehicles have become the bully dog in the yard of automobile industry.
With more and more developments like these, we can surely expect more and more hybrid vehicles roaming our streets.