Lotus develops green engine technology

A new project to develop a more environmentally friendly, fuel efficient engine has been announced by Lotus Engineering.

Dubbed OMNIVORE, the research engine project is a collaboration between Lotus Engineering, Jaguar Cars Ltd and Queen's University Belfast.

Focussing on renewable bio fuels and alcohol use the OMNIVORE concept will use novel engine architecture to achieve high thermal efficiency.

Lotus Engineering is undertaking a design study and build of a single cylinder research engine that is due for completion in January 2009.

With an innovative variable compression ratio system and two-stroke operating cycle with direct injection, the OMNIVORE engine will be ideally suited to flex-fuel operation.

Geraint Castleton-White, Head of Powertrain at Lotus Engineering said: "The requirement to operate on gasoline in today's flex-fuel engines limits their thermal efficiency when operating on alcohol fuels."

He adds: "This single-cylinder research engine will investigate a highly thermal efficient combustion system that optimises engine performance to fully exploit the properties of both gasoline and alcohol fuels and maximise efficiency."

The project is sponsored by DEFRA (Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs), the OMNIVORE engine research aiming to help ease the transition from today's fossil fuels to sustainable synthetic fuels of the future.

Kyle Fortune