Fuel-saving breakthrough
Published: October 3, 2005
A RADICAL new engine could cut fuel consumption and emissions by half, bringing relief from high petrol prices, its Australian inventor claims.
Former motor mechanic Brad Howell-Smith has signed agreements to develop his controlled combustion engine with manufacturers in Asia and the Middle East.
After 10 years on the drawing board, the first commercially produced examples should be available in the form of an Australian-built motorised tricycle as early as next year.
Mr Howell-Smith, who trained as a mechanic in Sydney but now lives on the Gold Coast, believes the oil price crisis and concerns about global warming make his invention more relevant than ever.
He and his business partners plan to float their company Revetec on the Australian Stock Exchange in November, but he concedes they may have a hard time convincing some investors.
“I actually doubted it for quite a while myself,” he said.
“I can’t believe I thought of it.”
Potentially compatible with petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and even two-stroke, Mr Howell-Smith’s creation is similar to a conventional engine but uses cams instead of a crankshaft to transfer power from the pistons.
According to Mr Howell-Smith - some of whose calculations are supported by independent consultants - the arrangement reduces friction and increases the efficiency with which motion is applied to the wheels. That reduces the amount of horsepower and, therefore, fuel needed to generate the same acceleration.
As well as cars, the engine could be used to drive light aircraft, boats, generators, pumps and industrial equipment.
However, Revetec will have its work cut out overcoming market scepticism. Its engine is the latest in a long line of “revolutionary” designs, most of which have failed to make any mainstream impact.
Australian Ralph Sarich’s orbital engine, for example, was billed as the future of motoring when it first emerged in the 1970s but, so far, it has had only limited application.
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