TIDMTRK
RNS Number : 4054Y
Torotrak PLC
17 May 2016
17 May 2016
Torotrak plc
("Torotrak" or the "Group")
V-Charge testing milestone successfully achieved, meeting OEM
target requirements
Torotrak, (LSE: TRK), a leading developer and supplier of
emissions reduction and fuel efficiency technology for vehicles, is
pleased to announce the on-engine V-Charge testing programme,
conducted by University of Bath ('Bath') in collaboration with a
global Tier 1 supplier of engine boosting systems and with the
participation of the Ford Motor Company ('Ford'), has successfully
met the key target requirements.
The results of the independent V-Charge on-engine performance
testing, in summary, were:
-- Key performance targets successfully achieved or exceeded
-- V-Charge in a twin-stage boosting configuration meets the
target torque requirements to enable significant engine
downsizing
-- V-Charge outperforms other advanced boosting systems
Further tests are being completed as Torotrak continues to
progress towards demonstrating V-Charge in a Ford Focus from summer
2016 onwards
V-Charge is a variable speed supercharger for gasoline and
diesel engines, enabling the level of engine boosting to be
adjusted independently of engine speed and providing rapid torque
response at any engine speed. V-Charge uses the Group's unique
traction drive technology to do this and as a result eliminates the
'lag' associated with conventional boosting technologies,
particularly at low engine speed where other boosting systems
struggle. V-Charge enables OEMs to radically downsize and downspeed
engines by producing more torque from smaller engines at lower
engine speeds and therefore delivering lower emissions whilst
maintaining the driving feel of a larger engine. Engine downsizing
and downspeeding is seen by the industry as critical to meet the
challenging post 2020/21 emissions regulations in passenger cars in
a cost-effective way.
The successful results announced today, provide an important
independent validation of the performance advantages of V-Charge
compared to other advanced engine boosting technologies and
confirms the inherent advantages of V-Charge to enable significant
engine downsizing and downspeeding. Delivering this important
milestone is expected to generate increased market pull from a
wider range of OEMs and to be the catalyst to securing technology
licensing deals with Tier 1 partners.
Chris Brace, Professor of Automotive Propulsion, University of
Bath: "The results of our on-engine dynamometer testing and
analysis confirm that V-Charge can match or exceed the performance
of other advanced boosting systems over a broad range of
performance attributes. We believe that the technology offers a
unique, purely mechanical solution, to engine boosting systems and
is a key enabler for engine downsizing, a critical element of OEMs
roadmaps to meet the challenging emissions targets whilst
maintaining vehicle performance and driveability."
Adam Robson, Chief Executive Torotrak: "We are very excited
about the results achieved from the independent Bath study. The
achievement of this major milestone confirms the significant
advantages of our V-Charge boosting product and the contribution
that the technology can make to the delivery by OEM's of the post
2020/21 emissions targets with cars that customers want to buy. We
next look forward to reporting to shareholders on our progress in
licensing this important technology into the global passenger car
market."
The Bath Project: test results
The project was established to develop a production-orientated
V-Charge twin-stage boosting system, to independently validate the
real-world benefits of Torotrak's variable speed supercharger and
demonstrate the capability of the technology to enable significant
engine downsizing whilst maintaining driveability. Critically,
these results have been independently validated by the University
of Bath in conjunction with a global engine boosting Tier 1
supplier on the class leading 1.0L Ford Ecoboost engine.
The key target parameters established by the participants in the
project and successfully achieved or exceeded by V-Charge during
the independent testing, are as follows:
-- Torque 200Nm - between 1,400rpm and 4,500rpm,
-- Torque 160Nm - at 1,000rpm,
-- Parasitic losses - up to 6% better part load brake specific
fuel consumption (BSFC) than incumbent clutched mechanical
supercharger,
-- Noise - independent 3(rd) party assessment validates
significant noise improvement compared to other mechanical
superchargers.
V-Charge: features and benefits
The following key features, confirmed as important by potential
Tier 1 licensing partners and OEM customers, have been validated as
part of the project:
Feature Benefit
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Compressor speed range - typically
10x to 100x engine speed * On demand variable air flow at any engine speed to
provide performance, economy and emissions benefits
* Allows precise air management and seamless turbo
handover at all engine speeds
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuous power capability
* Enables optimal turbo sizing for maximum power output
* Allows sustained continuous low speed torque when
required
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio controlled traction drive
CVT * Rapid time to maximum compressor speed
* Low noise with no noise attenuation required
* Lower installed cost
* Smaller, simpler packaging
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Low power electromechanical actuation
system * Low parasitic losses
* Low cost, compact standard automotive actuator
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
V-Charge: market uptake
The successful results from the Bath study confirm the
capability of V-Charge to enable more radical engine downsizing and
downspeeding whilst maintaining vehicle driveability and
performance. This will enable OEMs to put smaller engines in
vehicles to meet the challenging post 2020/21 emissions targets and
still sell vehicles that deliver the performance that customers
want to buy. V-Charge enables demanding engine downsizing and
downspeeding without sacrificing performance or incurring
significant additional cost. V-Charge offers OEM customers the
following key benefits when compared to other boosting
solutions:
-- Uses less fuel at full load than an equivalent non-variable
mechanical roots supercharger, by delivering only the air that is
required
-- Achieves faster torque response than two-stage turbocharging,
or clutched mechanical superchargers
-- Is much quieter in operation than mechanical superchargers,
or eBoosters which use switched reluctance motors
-- Can produce higher peak power than equivalent eBoost systems,
as the V-Charge supercharger operates continuously at low engine
speeds, which means that the turbocharger can be sized for higher
engine speeds only and hence optimized for peak power
-- Offers significant performance advantages on alternative
engine cycles such as Miller / Atkinson which are being
investigated by OEMs for next generation engine platforms.
V-Charge: licensing
These important results confirm the significant advantages over
other advanced boosting technologies and underpin the Group's
confidence in licensing the V-Charge technology into the global
passenger market.
For more information, please visit www.torotrak.com or
contact:
Torotrak plc
Adam Robson, Chief Executive / Rex Vevers, Finance Director
Tel: +44 1772 900931
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Financial Adviser & Broker)
Marc Milmo / Will Goode
Tel: +44 20 7894 7000
Tavistock (Financial PR)
Simon Hudson / Lulu Bridges / James Collins
Tel: +44 20 7920 3150
About Torotrak
Torotrak is a leading developer and supplier of kinetic energy
recovery systems, engine boosting and variable drive transmissions
for vehicles. Our portfolio of technology solutions substantially
improves fuel economy and reduces CO(2) and other emissions in
vehicles through capturing and recycling energy that would
otherwise be lost, harnessing the power of supercharging to enable
engine downsizing and managing the engine at the optimum point.
About Smart Project
The Innovate UK funded Smart Project programme is to develop a
production orientated version of the V-Charge supercharger for a
specific downsized engine application for passenger cars, involves
initial simulation, on-engine rig testing and demonstration of
real-world performance improvements and fuel economy from V-Charge.
Bath is a world-recognised centre of excellence in the field of
pressure charging and is responsible for independently validating
the potential of V-Charge to improve fuel consumption and
performance compared to incumbent boosting technology. The
programme is being conducted in collaboration with a global Tier 1
supplier of engine boosting systems and with the participation of
the Ford Motor Company.
-ends-
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May 17, 2016 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)
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