Although hybrid and pure electric vehicles (EVs) deliver reduced vehicle CO2 emissions and better fuel economy, adoption figures are still extremely low. According to the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), just 167 pure electric and 22,148 hybrid vehicles were registered in 2010 – that represents only 1.1% of total UK new car registrations. The SMMT cites poor range, high costs and disappointing performance as the main reasons why drivers are reluctant to make the switch to EVs.
Most pure EVs have a range of up to 100 miles (160km). For many people this will meet their requirements; allowing them to make short trips into town and the daily commute. But for others the limited range prevents them from long-distance journeys and can be a barrier to the purchase of a pure EV. To overcome this, vehicle manufacturers are looking into ways to extend the range of EVs by incorporating small internal combustion (IC) engines that will recharge the batteries while the car is being driven.
Vehicle manufacturers are looking into ways to extend the range of EVs by incorporating small internal combustion (IC) engines that will recharge the batteries while the car is being driven.
At Ultramo, we are developing an ultra-efficient IC engine that acts as an auxiliary power unit (APU) to help extend the range of EVs. The Ultramo engine has the potential to halve the carbon output in mechanical power applications and achieve double the thermal efficiency of an engine of equal power; meaning lower emissions and running costs than a traditional IC engine. It has a multi-fuel capability so it can help bridge the gap between the use of traditional fossil fuels and more environmentally friendly sustainable biofuels as they become more readily available.
The four key drivers for APU’s in EVs are reduced weight, increased efficiency, reduced noise and reduced vibration. The Ultramo engine is strong across all four areas, making it ideally suited to its use in EVs.
The Ultramo engine has the potential to halve the carbon output in mechanical power applications and achieve double the thermal efficiency of an engine of equal power.
It’s still early days for the pure EV and the first models are only just becoming available. There are still challenges to overcome, such as the lack of charging infrastructure. However, the UK has a great legacy in automotive engineering, and currently invests over £1.5bn (US$2.43bn) each year on research and development. The EV is the next chapter in the evolution of the car. The UK automotive industry can play its part in developing EV technology by following the model that has worked so successfully in the past – forming partnerships between specialists to source the best components for each task.
By collaborating with industry partners we can bring together some of the leading technologies to create viable EVs that people want to drive, and ensure that the UK plays a leading part in the future of the global automotive industry.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Automotive World Ltd.
Bruce Balmer is Business Development Director at Ultramo Ltd.
Bruce Balmer has 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, is an experienced entrepreneur, international speaker and strategic thinker. Ultramo’s engine has the potential to yield twice the fuel efficiency of existing engine technology by eliminating the majority of its heat losses. As well as significantly reducing running costs, Ultramo technology will halve CO2 emissions. The Ultramo design is quieter and is able to run on sustainable and carbon-neutral fuels as they become more readily available.
Web: www.ultramo-engines.com
Email: bruce.balmer@ultramo-engines.com
Tel: +44 1444 471 574
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