Libralato rotary engine; a game-change for cost competitive gasoline engines and plug-in hybrid cars.

Project Information

Libralato

Grant agreement ID: 672077

DOI

10.3030/672077

Project closed

EC signature date 27 April 2015

Start date 1 May 2015

End date 31 October 2015

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Smart, Green And Integrated Transport

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

LIBRALATO LTD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Libralato (Libralato rotary engine; a game-change for cost competitive gasoline engines and plug-in hybrid cars.)

Reporting period: 2015-05-01 to 2015-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

During the Feasibility Study, Libralato has undertaken more market and customer research, including exhibiting at the UK Low Carbon Vehicle Show (Sep 15) and the UK Advanced Engineering Show (Nov 15). The feedback gained has been very valuable in considering all the risks, regulations, competitors and market barriers involved and has forced Libralato to focus very sharply on a minimum viable product. Developing a new engine is expensive and the market barriers are high.
From the performed competitors analysis, Libralato has come to the conclusion that there are many experimental engines in the market, however none of them combines the potential for such high efficiency (20%) with an ultra compact package (50% lower), low cost (30% cheaper), low vibration (70% lower) and noise (50% lower) and low emissions (E6). The conducted research has also shown that most new engine are underdevelopment for decades, due to the lack of funding and complexity of the market.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

As a result of the Feasibility Assessment, Libralato’s strategic vision has focussed much more sharply on a first application of the engine as an electrified vehicle range extender. In engineering terms this is a much simpler, lower cost option which still demonstrates the main USPs of the engine: high efficiency, small package, low emissions and low cost. Libralato has achieved the technical and business feasibility objectives defined in the Phase 1 proposal, by securing the commitment of EDL and the Proving Factory for the phase 2 project, conducting focussed market, customer and risk analysis, considering market entry barriers and competition, defining a minimum viable product and business model, preparing an IP and marketing strategy, 5 years financial projections, a product development plan, a design verification plan and an industrialization plan to establish a highly innovative and successful business.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The expected outcome of the project is to bring to the market the most efficient compact engine in the world, that has been verified and qualified through operational experience, demonstration in a plug-in hybrid car. The Feasibility Assessment has clearly defined, quantified and costed the necessary steps to optimize and fully qualify the engine design, develop low cost, quality controlled manufacturing processes and integrate the engine as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle range extender, ready for a full commercial pilot starting in 2017/2018. Libralato has carefully planned its IP management and commercialization strategy, seeking industrial alliances with major manufacturers at the earliest opportunity, in order to defend its IPR. Libralato has rationalized how an H2020 SME Instrument Phase 2 project could provide an appropriate level of support to allow the stated activities to be implemented successfully and therefore intends to apply for a Phase 2 project.

Libralato rotary engine invertor and CTO of Libralato - Ruggero Libralato

Libralato Engine Cycle with Mk1&Mk3 Engines