Torotrak Group demonstrates Flybrid and V-Charge

Torotrak Group will be exhibiting its technology at the UK’s premier low carbon vehicle event, Cenex-LCV2016, held at Millbrook on 14^th & 15^th September.

LCV attendees will be transported to the entrance by a Wrightbus StreetLite bus equipped with the Flybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). Torotrak Group will also exhibit a Ford Focus 1.0L EcoBoost fitted with V-Charge, which sets new standards for downsized engine performance and response. During the seminars you will be able to hear about Flybrid KERS for Commercial Vehicles and the latest update on the V-Charge progress.

The Wrightbus StreetLite bus has already completed service trials on a standard bus route in Kent with Arriva, one of the largest bus operators in the UK, successfully demonstrating the performance of Flybrid KERS under real-world operating conditions. Flybrid KERS uses a high speed flywheel to capture and store energy that would otherwise be lost as heat in the brakes as the bus decelerates. Consequently as the vehicle accelerates, the energy stored in the flywheel is released offering significant savings of fuel and reduction in accompanying CO₂ and other harmful emissions.

The Ford Focus vehicle is fitted with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine fitted with Torotrak Group’s V-Charge variable drive mechanical supercharger as part of a 2-stage boosting architecture. By exploiting the ability of V-Charge to deliver accurate on-demand high power boosting, Torotrak Group was able to increase the 1.0L EcoBoost’s maximum torque from 170 Nm to 240 Nm, without compromising response and driveability. Independent tests by the University of Bath have shown the performance and response of the V-Charge 1.0L EcoBoost engine matches that of Ford’s bigger 1.5L EcoBoost engine, enabling more extreme downsizing that could deliver additional savings in CO₂emissions.

Torotrak Group will give two technical presentations during the event. Firstly, at 15:45 on Sept 14^th, as part of Propulsion Technologies (Session 1), Richard Dunne, the company’s Business Development Manager will present the results of V-Charge testing by the University of Bath in a paper entitled ‘Simulation and Validation of the V-Charge Mechanical Variable Drive Boosting System’.

The following day, at 14:30 in the Low Carbon Commercial Vehicles session, Joanna Brahova, the company’s Business Development Director, will present ‘Mechanical Energy Recovery System for Commercial Vehicles’. This paper will detail the successful application of Flybrid KERS to the Wrightbus StreetLite bus and its utilization on other commercial vehicles such as trucks.

The company will also be exhibiting at stand SP19 on the Millbrook Steering Pad throughout the event.