New Hybrid Technology Halves Fuel Consumption

Researchers at Artemis Intelligent Power, a Scotland-based engineering firm, say that they have perfected hybrid technology that can cut fuel consumption by 50 percent or more. The system uses a hydraulic drive system to capture energy that would otherwise be lost when the car brakes. The recaptured energy is stored as compressed gas, which is then returned to the vehicle's wheels, reducing the load on the engine.

Artemis Intelligent Power has converted a BMW 530 sedan to demonstrate the system. The computer-controlled hydraulic transmission system outperforms other hydraulic hybrid designs. Under test conditions in Europe, the modified BMW 530 used 52.7 percent less fuel than a regular gasoline-powered BMW530i. The system was also tested in the US under more aggressive test circumstances. In addition to a significant reduction in gasoline consumption, the modified prototype reduces carbon emissions by 30 percent.

In the US, the system achieved a reduction in fuel consumption of one-third, which compares favorably to the Toyota Prius and other highly fuel-efficent hybrids. The engineers at Artemis Intelligent Power are confident that the technology will be widely adopted in the next decade because it is cheaper to produce than current hybrid electric drive trains, and could eliminate the "hybrid premium" that currently prevents more drivers from adopting the technology. The company has already licensed the technology to commercial partners, including Bosch-Rexroth.

Photo Credit: Artemis Intelligent Power