Is the camshaft being timed out?

Development of electric vehicle motors, power controls and batteries, seemingly dominate the automotive industry's forward thinking, yet R&D of internal combustion engine technologies in its many forms continues. That is underlined by the U.K.'s Brunel University establishment of a new future-powertrain research program centering on intelligent valving technology and the eventual replacement of the conventional camshaft by electric actuators.

Brunel's Centre for Advanced Powertrain and Fuels (CAPF) has installed Camcon Automotive's SCI (Single Cylinder Intelligent Valve) technology development system, which the company regards as supporting upcoming emissions regulations and reducing ICE costs. CAPF director, Prof. Hua Zhao, said of the potential for Camcon Automotive's intelligent valve technology: “Its flexibility and superior controllability will enable the development of the next generation powertrain with very high efficiency, low carbon and zero environmental impact emissions.”