Problem:

70% of global oil production is used as transportation fuel. Fuel related GHG pollution costs the global economy $1.3 trillion a year. Electric has been proposed as an alternative but the EPA opines that it will never exceed 10% of the market because batteries only have 1% of the energy density of fuel. This means that for 90% of the market a solution does not exist.

Transformational Innovation:

The DOE advises that combusted fuel converts to 30% pressure (which moves a vehicle), and 70% heat, which is discharged by current engines as wasted energy. Conversely, the USPTO patented ZED engine innovatively scavenges bottom-cycle combustion heat energy and combines it with pressure (CHP – Combined Heat/Power or Combined Heat/Pressure) for optimal fuel use efficiency. The EPA rates gasoline engines at 30% efficient, diesels at 40% and CHP engines at 80% attainable efficiency. Developed at the National Research Council labs, the ZED engine “Active CHP” design effectively renders all conventional fuel engines obsolete.

ZED engines reduce GHG emissions up to 93% into the SULEV vehicle category. This is possible because fuel is burned with an unlimited amount of air, ensuring ideal stoich regardless of fuel type, engine RPM or work load. Continuous optimal stoich is unachievable with current engines.

Ease of Manufacuring:

For manufacturing, the ZED engine has 1/3 less parts, and weighs less than conventional engines, yet typically produces 500 ft/lbs of torque per 1.0L displacement. Made of 100% re-cycled iron, steel, aluminum and plastic, it can be manufactured in any current engine plant, using current materials, machines, and labor, to be seamlessly installed in any current vehicle on any assembly line. It is approximately 1/3 less expensive to manufacture than a conventional engine, with less than ½ the service intervals.

The ZED engine is fully scalable from train locomotives to lawn mowers, although the company is currently focused on manufacturer joint venture discussions to replace diesel engines in motor vehicles.

Marketplace Acceptance:

For consumers, they can drive any vehicle that they want, and use it as designed. Importantly, a ZED powered vehicle would cost a purchaser no more than a conventional vehicle, which overcomes a major barrier to consumer adoption.

For the government, costly subsidies are not needed to artificially and unsustainably induce sales.

Market Summary:

The ZED engine can replace any conventional engine in any use. The global market for cars and light trucks was 1.0 billion in 2010, projected to reach 2.5 billion vehicles annually by 2050. Approximately 197,000,000 fuel engines will be manufactured annually by 2022. ZED has the potential to meet proposed emissions standards through to 2050, with all the power and range of fuel. With 100% market replacement potential, emissions reduction would greatly exceed the 10% niche market potential of electric.