Joins Advanced Propulsion Centre UK on Chinese Technology Mission
7 January 2019:
Libertine FPE Limited (‘Libertine’), the Smart Engine IP licensing company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chinese automotive company Enovatemotors, with the intent to work together on future ‘Smart Range Extenders’ based on an innovative ‘Free Piston Engine’ (FPE) design.
Enovatemotors launched its luxury electric vehicle (EV) brand ENOVATE in China in November 2018. Enovate targets the medium to large luxury car segment with electric cars that will compete the world’s best on quality and technology (see: www.enovatemotors.com).
Says Shengfu Niu, Director & CTO, Enovatemotors: “We are delighted to have an agreement enabling us to work with Libertine as we develop future smart Range Extender solutions for use in our Enovate luxury electric cars. The future of Range Extenders will be smart, and Enovatemotors is at the forefront of developing new EV technologies with the assistance of innovative partners like Libertine.”
Says Sam Cockerill, CEO, Libertine FPE: “We are excited to be working with Enovatemotors, a company with a strong vision of how the future of luxury automobiles will work and the capability to implement new technologies to make that future happen. We’ve been approached by multiple Chinese OEMs across the automotive and distributed power industries who have each determined that they need to develop ‘Free Piston’ electrical power generator products and are evaluating Libertine’s Smart Engine platform tech.”
Libertine is enabling a revolution in the design of combustion engine-generators that will help Chinese OEMs build cleaner, more efficient hybrid vehicles powered by a combination of grid electricity and clean, alternative transport fuels. Smart Engines created by this revolution will play a major role in global transport and power generation for decades to come.
Chinese Technology Mission
Libertine is taking its technology for 20-40kWe free piston based ‘Smart Engines’ to Chinese automotive technology companies as part of the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Chinese Technology Mission from 10th-15th January 2019.
The Chinese Technology Mission will help build new relationships and encourage trade between Chinese and UK automotive technology companies, through a series of showcases of R&D Capability and technologies.
The mission will be centred around the EV100 conference on the 12th-13th January 2019. The event features high-level representatives from Chinese government, OEMs and prestigious scientists who will provide an update on hybrid and electric vehicle technologies, strategies and policies at this forum.
Continues Cockerill: “This opportunity to deepen our relationships in the important Chinese market for new, clean energy vehicles comes at a great time for Libertine as we prepare to launch our intelli-GEN Smart Engine platform. This will enable Chinese OEMs to accelerate their introduction of next generation range extenders. We look forward to networking with key people in the sector, presenting our IP, and building on the partnerships we have already established in China.”
The APC China Mission has brought together the best of UK technology and engineering R&D companies through a competitive application process. Selected companies will be able to engage directly with Chinese OEMs located in engineering centres around Beijing and Shanghai.
Libertine’s intelli-GEN Smart Engine platform leverages Libertine’s proprietary electro-mechanical and motion control solutions, and will underpin the development of a wide range of free piston engine products for mass market production within China’s domestic markets and global market applications.
Understanding Libertine Smart Engine Technology
A Smart Engine based on Libertine technology has the crankshaft replaced by software-controlled electrical machines that both generate electrical power and govern piston motion to optimise the combustion process.
Also known as ‘Free Piston Engines’ or ‘Free Piston Linear Generators’, Smart Engine will be far more efficient, cleaner and more flexible. Just as nearly all modern engines are now ECU controlled, so most internal combustion engines will ultimately incorporate smart piston motion control. This approach can produce 30% more power from the same fuel input.
Libertine leads the revolution by solving the challenge of piston motion control. Libertine’s intelli-GEN Smart Engine technology platform can be applied in a wide range of engines from portable power units and series hybrid passenger cars up to much larger bus and truck engines.