Pneumatic Hybrid Feasibility Study (PHFS)

A 12 month feasibility study project to determine the viability of a pneumatic hybrid application (Ashwoods Air Hybrid) for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV’s) that would be CO2/Cost competitive with Hybrid / Electric applications. In an HEV/EV, an electric motor is powered by conventional, expensive battery cells. The Ashwoods Air Hybrid will feature a chassis mounted pneumatic motor, powered by the standard vehicle’s diesel engine (acting as an air compressor) and storing the compressed air in a underbody spun carbon fibre tank, thus providing a more lightweight cost effective and innovative hybrid solution. The study will produce findings and simulation data that will determine the feasibility of the Ashwoods Air Hybrid through extensive modelling and simulation. Ashwoods has over 2,000,000 miles of HEV real world data from Ashwoods vehicles that will be modelled to complete this comprehensive feasibility study. The modelling will take place at Bath University where, from a previous TSB project, Ashwoods has funded a Simulation & Modelling suite for hybrid technologies. Ashwoods specialise in developing emission reduction technology for LCV’s. They see the potential and have the capability to develop a pneumatic hybrid for this growing market sector. Ashwoods have initial prototype designs for a pneumatic motor and in order to develop this further it is important to understand the feasibility of the Air Hybrid application by establishing required motor efficiency levels, ICE intergration processes , thermodynamics and Co2 and commercial Cost / Benefit arguments.The Air Hybrid will be scalable to a whole host of LCV’s, because a larger vehicle has a larger standard engine, which provides greater air volumes (compression) for the pneumatic hybrid application.OEM’s and Industry see pneumatics as a potential step change and disruptive technology to the LCV market.