Emissions reduction at a stroke

Ricardo

is to develop a prototype engine capable of switching between two-stroke and four-stroke operation to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The company, which previously carried out a feasibility study to investigate the concept’s potential, will now build a prototype in a £1.9m project, partly funded by the DTI.

A petrol engine capable of switching between the two modes would be smaller and lighter, but with the same level of performance as a much larger power unit, the firm claims. The engine would also consume around 30 per cent less fuel and produce fewer emissions, with similar production costs to a conventional diesel engine.

The project will involve ‘a number’ of manufacturers, which Ricardo declined to name, although Ford took part in the original feasibility study. The consortium, which also includes automotive technology supplier Denso, valvetrain switching specialist Ma 2T4, and Brunel and Brighton universities, will build a 2 litre V6 research engine, which should have the performance of a 3–4 litre V8.