Torotrak has been awarded a grant of GBP205,000 (US$343,000) through the Technology Strategy Board’s Smart Scheme to develop an application-specific, production-intent version of its V-Charge technology.
With additional support from a major OEM and an unnamed Tier One supplier, Torotrak will work in partnership with the University of Bath Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre to optimise the technology around a production engine.
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“The opportunity to fully exploit the potential of V-Charge by manipulating various engine parameters, such as valve timing, injection modes, and exhaust gas recirculation means we can develop the optimum production-feasible installation for a homologated vehicle,” said Torotrak product director, Andrew De Freitas.
“This allows us to evolve a purpose-made unit that brings the technology much closer to market than previous proof-of-concept hardware.”
V-Charge overcomes the main barrier to engine downsizing by providing near instant response at any engine speed, through the use of a supercharger with a mechanical variable speed drive that endows a small engine with the performance feel of a larger, naturally aspirated unit.
This ability allows the boosting of smaller engines across their full operating range with a single V-Charge device, unlike an electric supercharger that would require the addition of a turbocharger to achieve the same spread of performance.
