Developing sustainable internal combustion engine solutions

Ricardo is confident that Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) will continue as a central element within propulsion systems for future road transport. Their position will be maintained via further development focused on sustainability measured on a full life-cycle basis.

ICE based propulsion systems are well established in all road transport sectors due to a strong balance of attributes including low cost, high power density, proven durability, and fuel use flexibility with established fuel networks. These attributes are strengthened by a wide range of electrification options.

Electrification is growly rapidly within the light-duty sector where solutions range from low-voltage mild hybrids, through high-voltage full hybrids to battery and fuel cell electric vehicles. The next generation of light-duty ICE products for dedicated hybrid applications are being designed in line with more sustainable requirements including operation with ‘zero impact’ to air quality for urban operation, operation at high efficiency and suitability for future fuels.

The combustion system, at the heart of the ICE, has a higher optimisation potential when the operating boundaries can be constrained by the hybrid architecture. Ricardo’s Magma xEV is an example of a high efficiency combustion system designed specifically for series hybrid or range extender ICE applications. The Magma xEV combustion system is designed to achieve up to 50% peak thermal efficiency via a focus on reducing heat losses with ultra-lean combustion ignited by an active pre-chamber and waste-heat recovery.