Scuderi Group proves green technology works

Date: 9/22/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD -- The Scuderi Group of West Springfield has reached another benchmark in creating the world's most efficient automobile engine -- they've proven it works.

Members of the group traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, last week to reveal their findings at the International Motor Show. The Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine produces 80 percent fewer emissions than today's internal combustion engines thanks to the brainchild of the late Carmelo Scuderi.

"Bringing the Scuderi Engine to life has been a very long road," Stephen Scuderi, Carmelo's son and vice president and patent attorney for the Scuderi Group, said. "We've been methodical and meticulous in our research and development. As a result, our technology will likely be licensed in the near future and enjoyed by drivers around the world."

According to information released by the Scuderi Group, "the Scuderi Cycle is a split-cycle design that divides the four strokes of a conventional combustion cycle over two paired cylinders ... 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 Cycle is capable of producing more torque than conventional gasoline and diesel engines."

Stephen noted that the lengthy, complicated process to bring this technology to fruition began in 1994 with his father's research. He explained that since then the Scuderi Group has raised over $28 million to finance research and testing of the technology while gaining over 200 patents, 72 of which are issued in over 50 countries.

"Preliminary test results are very encouraging," Sal Scuderi, president of the Scuderi Group, said. "The pressure curves produced from the combustion process of firing after top dead center are showing excellent results and torque levels remain very strong. We're excited to see this progress and be able to introduce such a historical development at this year's [International Motor Show]."

Stephen noted that there is still much more work to be completed, however. He explained that four more split-cycle prototypes -- turbo-charged/gasoline; air-hybrid/gas-oline; turbocharged/diesel and air-hybrid/diesel -- will be built and tested at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, between now and 2011.

"We're currently in talks with 14 of the world's top 20 engine manufacturers," Stephen said. "The announcement that [we made] to the industry at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, [last] week -- that we've proven the core concept of our technology through successful testing of the prototype -- means that we're getting closer and closer to seeing a car with a Scuderi engine on the market."

He added that the first vehicle using the Scuderi engine should roll off the line in 2012.