Gas turbine tech to boost electric vehicles’ range

The new engine uses innovative air bearings to reduce friction and wear, whilst improving efficiency. Compared with conventional piston engines, it can cut emissions of nitrous oxides by 85%, potentially making a significant contribution towards reducing air pollution.

Primarily designed as a range extender for electric vehicles, the engine can also be used as a highly efficient, compact power source for unmanned air vehicles, boats, buses and lorries.

Professor Kyle Jiang, Director of the Research Centre for High-performance Turbomachinery at the University of Birmingham, commented: “This is a radically different proposition to current piston engines - ours has much higher thermal efficiency and much lower emissions.

“Current range extending engines are all piston-driven, but gas turbine range extenders are superior technology. We believe that this innovation will give a competitive edge to the British automotive industry and have a major impact on the European light vehicle market, which is worth around half-a-trillion Euros.”

A UK-based company, Birmingham High Performance Turbomachinery Limited, has been set up to design and construct the engine. The Chinese company Wuxi Yuanchang, based in Jiangsu, will develop a high-speed electric generator to be installed on the engine.

Multiple patent applications have been filed to protect the engine and related technologies. A demonstration version of the engine is being developed, which will provide a solid foundation for improvements and applications.

“Electric vehicles feature zero emission and excellent driveability, but travelling range per charge has reduced their public appeal,” added Professor Jiang. “Adding batteries is one solution to extend range, but this increases a vehicle’s weight and cost considerably. Some companies use a small piston engine with an electric generator, but emissions and thermal efficiency are worse than those of bigger piston engines measured in per unit power output.”

The University of Birmingham and Jiangsu Industry Technology Research Institute (JITRI) signed an agreement, in September 2017, intended to help strengthen links between Jiangsu Province and the City of Birmingham in working together on industrial research and development, such as advanced manufacturing and electronic information systems.

Professor Jon Frampton, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for China and Director of the University’s China Institute, said: “This partnership between the University of Birmingham and Wuxi Yuanchang is tremendously exciting. It is testament to the strength of our partnerships in Jiangsu Province and the University’s growing reputation in China as our researchers establish innovative collaborations around the globe.”