Scuderi Group gets closer to completing greener engine

Date: 7/14/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD -- The Scuderi Group of West Springfield came one step closer this month to answering the global call for greener automotive technology.

Engineers successfully fired the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine -- the most efficient internal combustion engine in over 100 years for the first time earlier this month, just two months after unveiling a prototype at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2009 World Congress in Detroit, Mich.

"This marks another great moment for the engine and our world-class team working on its development," Sal Scuderi, president of the Scuderi Group, said. "It's great to be able to share this milestone with those who have been following our development and who have showed overwhelming interest since we first introduced this concept and design over three years ago."

The original design for the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine was completed by Carmelo Scuderi, a West Springfield native, prior to his death in 2001.

Scuderi noted that this split-cycle technology allows automakers to comply with higher emissions and efficiency standards without large costs to manufacturers.

"Most of the new engine ideas out there would require major -- and costly -- changes to assembly lines and/or [to the] production process," he explained. "Since the Scuderi Engine uses most of the same parts and would require only minimal retooling, it would cost less to incorporate than other newer engines that are out there."

Scuderi added that at least one more prototype and additional tests by engineers at Southwest Research Institute must be completed before the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine is on the road.

"The Scuderi Engine is a split-cycle design that divides the four strokes of a conventional combustion cycle over two paired cylinders: one intake/compression cylinder and one power/exhaust cylinder," according to information released by Christian Carlson, public relations representative for the Scuderi Group. "By firing after top-dead center, it produces highly efficient, cleaner combustion with one cylinder and compressed air in the other.

"Unlike conventional engines that require two crankshaft revolutions to complete a single combustion cycle, the Scuderi Engine requires just one. Besides the improvements in efficiency and emissions, studies show that the Scuderi Engine is capable of producing more torque than conventional gasoline and diesel engines," Carlson wrote.

Scuderi noted that the group is currently in talks with 14 of the world's top 20 engine manufacturers with the plan to have the engine on the road in the near future.