Car engine that can cut fuel bill 25%

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 31

Car engine that can cut fuel bill 25%

BY

JOHN TOWNSLEY,

JVrniTl A VF TT A, Melbourne AAP correspondent A car engine that could dramatically reduce Western dependence on Middle East oil has been displayed in Melbourne. Scalzo Automotive Research, Ltd, demonstrated its five-cylinder continuously variable stroke engine in the plaza of the Southern Cross Hotel in the centre of the city. Tests have shown the engine is capable of a 25 per cent saving in fuel costs and the Company believes this could rise as

high as 40 per cent when research and development is complete. The former chairman of Ford Australia, Sir Brian Inglis, chairman of the new company, said the new engine was the biggest step in the internal combustion engine in the last 35 years. Sir Brian agreed the political and economic implications for Australia were wide if the automotive industry accepted the new engine. Sir Brian, who retired from his Ford post last year, was responsible, among other innovations,

for producing the first Ford Falcon in Australia. “This engine has no crankshaft,” he said. “I expect it. will take 18 ' months before we attract I the interest of automotive firms.” The Federal Governi ment has already spent more than $400,000 in the s initial research and the : company wants to raise i $4.5 million from the piib- ■ lie for further research. I The inventor of what is now known as the CVS 1 engine, Mr Joseph Scalzo, t was guarded about its , eventual success. , “Let’s wait and see,” he

t said. Emeritus Professor Ken i Hunt, who recently retired after 10 years as i professor of mechanism in the department of mechanical engineering at Melbourne’s Monash Uni- ■ versity, was less cautious. J Manufacture of the CVS J engine made no demands I beyond accepted technology in the automotive field. I Mr Scalzo said he first ’ thought of the concept in I the oil-crisis affected late ’ 19705, and work on the engine began in March, ! 1983. .