Ricardo’s HyBoost project offers radical engine downsizing

Ricardo, Inc. recently unveiled its HyBoost project vehicle at the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle 2011 event held at Rockingham, U.K. The HyBoost combines high impact, low-cost electrical systems that offer the possibility of radical engine downsizing through the use of electric superchargers and energy capture and storage technologies, within a conventional gasoline powertrain architecture. Ricardo Inc. is a U.S. subsidiary of Ricardo plc, which is the leading independent provider of technology, engineering and product innovations solutions. Ricardo, Inc. leads the Hyboost project, a partnership among Controlled Power Technologies, Ford, Imperial College, London, the European Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium and Valeo. The project is co-funded by the Technology Strategy Board, which is backed by the U.K. government.

The HyBoost concept

The Hyboost concept is based on an altered 2009 Ford Focus. A 1.0L three-cylinder EcoBoost engine is used in lieu of the 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engine. The 50% downsizing by swept volume is aimed at delivering zero degradation in drivability, acceleration or performance. Through the HyBoost project, the companies involved want to showcase an extremely cost-effective and ultra-efficient gasoline engine in a C-segment passenger car. The engine delivers the performance of a baseline 2.0L model with significantly reduced real-word and drive cycle carbon dioxide emissions. (September 7, 2011)