
Conventional gasoline engines are terribly inefficient things. Only 13% of the energy of the fuel actually moves the car. 62% is lost in the engine as waste heat, and driveline losses, accessories, and idling also reduce the efficiency.
Transonic Combustion is planning to build automobile engines with improved efficiency obtained through heating and pressurizing gasoline before injecting it into the combustion chamber. "This puts it into a supercritical state that allows for very fast and clean combustion, which in turn decreases the amount of fuel needed to propel a vehicle," according to MIT Technology Review. A transonic test vehicle achieved 64 MPG in highway driving, compared to a 48 MPG hybrid Prius, and running at a steady cruising speed of 50 mph, the test vehicle achieved 98 MPG.
Like diesel and HCCI, the Transonic Combustion technology operates without needing a spark plug. Timing software also further enhances the operating efficiency of the system. Transonic injection is being developed for use with gasoline engines at present, but will also be compatible with advanced low carbon footprint bio-fuels in the future. Transonic expects its system will be comparable in cost to other current high-end fuel injection systems.
Because of the higher operating pressure, the longevity and durability of the engine will be important considerations the company will need to address. The company plans to build its production facility in 2013 and expects to be building engines for production vehicles in 2014.
via: Inhabitat

written by camarco, March 11, 2010
written by Brian Green, March 12, 2010
written by hyperspaced, March 12, 2010
written by Joe, March 12, 2010
written by Doc Rings, March 15, 2010
Now you may doubt the veracity of their patented technology, but be careful with the words you choose to malign a company. But, you may be correct in that they may need more capital... what new start-up company doesn't need a darling investor?
Cheers,
Doc
written by wtf, March 15, 2010
written by Anna, March 17, 2010
I'm a student working on building an EcoCAR. Our car is a Plug-In Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric, it runs on hydrogen and battery power and uses 80% of the energy produced (5X more efficient than ICEs). There is zero carbon emission! Our vehicle industry needs to be vigorously pursuing such clean technologies to truly make a difference.
More can be found about our car and our EcoCAR Challenge at www.greengarageblog.org and the team website www.uwaft.com.
written by jm, March 18, 2010
Plenty of heavy hitters and real tech. This is the real thing. Although I'll admit a lot of the stuff on this site is garbage.
written by The Mastermind, March 18, 2010
written by Phil Bangs, March 19, 2010
written by Bill S., March 19, 2010
Billy Bob
written by cleantuesday, March 29, 2010
Avec les start ups americaines Planktonix et Algaesystems, la start up francaise BBTEK et plusieurs autres start ups et grands groupes
Mardi 6 avril - 18H30 - 22H
La Cantine Numerique, Passage des Panoramas, 151 rue Montmartre, 75002 Paris
For the first time in France a Cleantech event Micro Algae - Biofuel With several French and American start ups and a world leader
http://cleantuesdayparis.fr/event/cleantuesday-micro-algues-bio-fuel
written by Uncle B, April 10, 2010
written by Davey, June 07, 2010
written by Tom G, June 16, 2013
written by Tom G, June 16, 2013
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