Heavy-Duty Air-Hybrid Engine Prototype Shows Up to 18% Improvement in Fuel Economy, Depending On Drive Cycle

Initial simulation studies of a prototype heavy-duty air-hybrid engine being developed by engineers at Volvo Powertrain, UCLA and Sturman Industries show a 4-18% improvement in fuel economy over a wide range of driving cycles. The amount of improvement depends on the cycle.
The addition of a low-temperature EGR circuit could boost that improvement by another three [...]

Initial simulation studies of a prototype heavy-duty air-hybrid engine being developed by engineers at Volvo Powertrain, UCLA and Sturman Industries show a 4-18% improvement in fuel economy over a wide range of driving cycles. The amount of improvement depends on the cycle.

The addition of a low-temperature EGR circuit could boost that improvement by another three to four percentage points, according to the research team. The goal of the project, co-funded by the DOE, is to develop and demonstrate a heavy duty air-power-assist (APA) engine for a refuse vehicle with a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency and with emissions that meet the 2010 regulations.