EV turbine recharging nearing production

A ground-breaking Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) system could be ready for mass production by the end of 2019, Chinese automotive research and development company Techrules says.

The system showcased in the Ren supercar at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show could revolutionise EV charging.

A smaller 15kW turbine nearing production readiness can cater for passenger cars, allowing faster commercialisation.

World Electric Vehicle Association founding chairman professor Ching Chuen Chan is overseeing a newly-established Techrules R&D centre in Beijing and has helped guide the 15kW turbine’s development.

The TREV system hybrid powertrain technology comprises a turbine generator and combines extensive experience in aviation and EV technologies with several innovations, delivering unprecedented efficiency and performance and ultra-low environmental impact, the company says.

“Since we showcased the Ren supercar with a twin 80kW turbine set-up at the 2017 and 2018 Geneva Motor Shows, we received a tremendous amount of interest from OEMs around the world looking to benefit from its exceptional range-extending capabilities for passenger cars and commercial vehicles,” Techrules chief executive officer William Jin says.

“So, we decided to adjust our strategy and develop a smaller and cheaper 15kW version which is more suitable for commercial and passenger vehicles. This is allowing us to commercialise the TREV system much faster. We will be ready for mass production by the end of 2019.”

Techrules will use the TREV system in fixed and mobile charging stations as well as providing it to OEMs for use in commercial vehicles and passenger cars.

It is also seeking a suitable international partner to help finalise production of its Ren supercar, aiming to use its TREV system for its own passenger cars.

The inventor of the new micro-turbine technology, Techrules chief technology officer Matthew Jin, says the development of the Ren supercar cements the company’s belief that large-scale adoption of micro-turbines in EVs will herald a new age for electric mobility.

”Because the core technology of our turbine includes a new hybrid air bearing system, we have a previously unavailable route to mass-production of micro-turbines at a reasonable cost. And it can run on renewable fuels such as ethanol and biogas, which would smooth the transition from the age of fossil fuels to the age of electricity,” he says.

Its superior efficiency means fewer batteries are needed for EVs, saving significant weight and cost, while also reducing emissions and urban pollution, he adds.

Whether applied as a standalone charging system or as an EV range extender, the micro-turbine can recharge batteries anywhere, any time.

It eliminates range anxiety and the inconvenience of lengthy charging times or poor charge point availability, Jin says.

Since it can use existing infrastructure it avoids challenges posed by the construction, cost and capacity of charging networks.

Techrules plans to build “the largest micro-turbine facility in the world”.