Aramco Develops New Hybrid Engine, Challenging Global Automotive Dominance

Specifically designed, the motor's added intake and exhaust valves are no longer necessary, resulting in a total of only six valves, operated by low-energy pushrod technology.

As a consequence, the valve train becomes more compact, cheaper, and less complicated, unlike the typical four valves per cylinder configuration found in most modern small displacement engines.

A shorter cylinder head also allows Aramco's Detroit-based engineers to give each cylinder a longer stroke, increasing thermal efficiency.

The DHE is a designed-for-scale engine. In addition to the 1.6-liter inline-three (three-cylinder inline) prototype, this technology can be easily applied to the 1.1-liter inline-two engine. Two of these engines can be combined to create a 2.3-liter V4 engine, while two three-cylinder engines can become a 3.2-liter V6 engine.

According to MotorTrend, when Aramco tested the inline-three engine in a sedan roughly the size of a Camry, they discovered that turbocharging could be used to increase power output without significant losses in efficiency.

Furthermore, the engine's oil system, compatible with dry-sump systems, allows it to be positioned flat, enabling the engine to fit under an SUV or truck's cargo floor for four-wheel drive.

Since each wheel-driven motor receives instructions from a single electric motor, no transmission, axle, or differential is required, reducing the powertrain's need for space.

Minimizing complexity also means less maintenance of the eliminated CV joint, hub assembly, or specific engine cycle tasks, resulting in decreased wear and oil degradation.

Nayan Engineer's idea, with a fitting name, is a senior specialist in internal combustion engine and fuel research at Aramco Americas.

The DHE arrives with multiple goals, including easier and cheaper production, less wasted energy as heat, and, of course, greater fuel efficiency.

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