While much of the media coverage focuses on hybrid cars for consumers, some of the most promising applications of hybrid technology are on diesel trucks because of the potential mileage and environmental improvements.

For example,

EPA Unveils Unique Hydraulic Hybrid Diesel Delivery Truck with UPS

The EPA and UPS plan to evaluate the vehicle’s fuel economy performance and emissions during a series of tests in 2006. In laboratory testing, the EPA’s patented hydraulic hybrid diesel technology achieved a 60 to 70 percent improvement in fuel economy and more than a 40 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, compared to a conventional UPS vehicle.

“EPA and our partners are not just delivering packages with this UPS truck - we are delivering environmental benefits to the American people,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson

Read the whole press release here.

The potential impact of The Scuderi Air Hybrid Engine on the diesel market is staggering. Here’s why.

Today’s Diesel Engines

The diesel engine is the most energy efficient of all the internal combustion engines. This high efficiency results in good fuel economy and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, diesel engines have proven reliability, durability and are better suited for carrying large heavy loads. However, diesel engines also have some significant drawbacks such as weight, noise, high emissions of NOx and particulate matter (soot), and high cost.

Despite these drawbacks, with today’s soaring oil prices and the demand for higher efficiency, the number of diesel engines is steadily growing. In fact, outside the US auto market, diesel engines are by far the predominant engine of choice.

With the diesel engine manufacturers trying to meet the growing demands for better performance, more power and cleaner sources of energy, diesel engines have become very sophisticated high tech systems.

Today’s diesel engine consists of multistage turbochargers, high pressure fuel injection systems and complex exhaust treatment systems. All of these systems work to either improve performance or reduce the emissions, but unfortunately they also significantly increase cost.

The Scuderi Engine Impact

The Scuderi Engine has an even bigger impact on diesel engines than on gasoline engines. Because the Scuderi Split-Cycle Technology not only improves the performance of the engine but reduces the complexity and cost of the engine, the impact is staggering.

The Scuderi Technology drastically reduces the cost of diesel systems by eliminating or dramatically reducing three of the most expensive and complex parts of a diesel system.

1.) Turbocharging: Because of the built-in supercharging capabilities of the Scuderi Engine, the need for turbochargers is eliminated. The cost of turbochargers alone can save thousands of dollars per system.

2.) Injectors: Because the Scuderi Engine fires only on half of its cylinders, only half of the fuel injectors are required. The cost of today’s high pressure injectors can amount to over 30% of the base engine cost. In addition, because of the high turbulence created by the air transferring into the power cylinder from our transfer passage, the Scuderi Diesel Engine will be able to use low pressure, low cost injectors instead of the expensive high pressure injectors.

3.) Exhaust: Perhaps the feature with the largest cost impact is the reduction or elimination of the exhaust treatment system. Because of the unique method of firing after top dead center and a very fast moving power piston, the two biggest emission problems for diesel engines (NOx and soot) are eliminated or drastically reduced.

Emission reduction has been the greatest challenge for today’s diesel engine manufacturers, with the sophistication and cost of the exhaust treatment systems growing rapidly. The newer urea based Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust treatment systems can add from $11,000 to over $50,000 to the cost of large diesel engines. In addition, the increased weight and complexity increases the cost of maintenance and repairs.

The Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine solves today’s biggest emission problems facing diesel engine manufacturers, while reducing cost and improving performance. The cost savings alone are so dramatic (40 to 50% cost reduction) that diesel engine and equipment manufacturers will be compelled to convert to Scuderi Engine Technology. The cost savings, reduced emissions and performance increase makes the Scuderi Engine Technology the diesel engine design of the future.