VGT Technologies is presently developing a Hybrid Pneumatic Vehicle based on pressurized air being used for supercharging and auxiliary power for acceleration and short term high power demands. Supercharging the combustion engine will enable downsizing to about half the displacement volume or making efficient use of variable displacement technology i.e. displacement on demand thereby saving fuel and emissions.
Regenerative braking will recharge the air tank as well as during normal driving when the combustion engine is most efficient. The Hybrid Pneumatic Engine system using RoundEngine technology will be less expensive and environmentally more friendly than a Hybrid Electric Engine system currently on the market. There are no batteries to replace and only a simple control system for less complexity and easy maintenance.
In addition the VGT Hybrid Pneumatic Vehicle will have the unique capability of recycling waste heat from the exhaust and convert it to power saving even more fuel and emissions.
An energy storage system using pressurized air is based on a non-chemical,compressed air tank technology which has virtually NO negative impact on the environment.The air tank will last as long as vehicle or longer.
In the first phase of development VGT will focus on the air drive using the RoundEngine technology and supercharging. The front axle will be powered by the combustion engine,the rear axle will be powered by the air drive. The purpose is to prove the air drive and the supercharging with associated downsizing or variable displacement in an automotive application and to demonstrate fuel and emissions savings. A RoundEngine is presently in the final assembly phase followed by the integration into a vehicle.
Planned Features - Phase One:
1. Air drive used mostly for acceleration and low speed, combustion engine drives at higher speeds and recharges air tanks.
2.
Regenerative braking,where the braking energy is used and stored for later propulsion, this will save brake wear and cuts down on energy otherwise wasted into the environment.
3. Supercharging the combustion engine with downsizing or variable displacement technology (downsizing on demand) which allows also for pulling heavy loads.
4. Compressed air can be used for better air conditioning and heating as well as for power tools, we will experiment with these capabilities in the AWD.
5. Optional plug-in capability depending on tank size.
6. Compressed air can be used to purge exhaust gases for further emission reductions.
Planned Features - Phase Two:
In this phase we plan to use waste heat from the exhaust and the engine cooling system to convert into power. As heat is transferred to the pressure vessels gases tend to expand or the pressure will increase. RoundEngine will make use of this characteristic and convert the expansion/pressure increase to power. Other options are to use fluids with phase changes to produce closed cycle high pressure steam for propulsion.
Planned Features - Phase Three:
In the third phase of development VGT will focus on the gas/air drive using only RoundEngines. This car will be 100% powered by the VGT engine we call, RoundEngine. Combustion engine, air drive and supercharging combined into one RoundEngine system,supercharging with variable displacement technology for downsizing.
What are the benefits we expect to find?
1. An affordable,simple,easy to maintain and environmentally friendly hybrid system yielding similar or better fuel and emissions savings as hybrid electric technology.
2. Lower cost than a gas/electric hybrid system as you will not have any batteries to replace, and batteries are a big cost to electric hybrid cars. The air tanks will not have to be replaced for the life of a vehicle.
3. Optional plug-in capability extending the non-combustion engine operation to achieve better fuel economy and emission savings.
4. Waste heat recovery for propulsion, exhaust heat and heat rejected from the cooling system can be used for propulsion and adds power to the drive system.
