Plasma Ignition Making Progress - Autoline Exclusives

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We've been using spark plugs to ignite fuel inside of engines for over 100 years. Maybe it's time to change that. Transient Plasma Systems (TPS) developed a system that uses fast pulses of plasma, an electrically charged gas, at a low temperature to ignite all sorts of fuels. The low temperature improves thermal efficiency and the whole process requires less energy and provides better emissions. Here Sean McElroy talks Dan Singleton, the CEO of TPS.
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[@shanelen]

this is a huge game changer, love to see the application in V-8's, long live the I.C.E

[@mememan2344]

THE ICE ISN'T DEAD YET 😆 honestly the future is looking more and more cyberpunk bc things like fuel cells, electric cars, and ice all being choices for cars

[@bardigan1]

Good to see you back, Sean

[@marvinegreen]

I remember watching the earlier video with some interest. Interesting update. Knowledgeable guest. Instructive graphics.

[@ericb.4358]

We're WAITING! I'd love to retro fit it on my 2109 MAZDA CX-5 2.5 L turbo engine. Then maybe 35 MPG would be attainable.

[@warrenhooper1218]

Without trying to sound negative, this would have been great 10 - 12 years ago when combustion engines were the defacto standard. Any car company that spends money developing this tech is not applying their resources in the right places to ensure their future survival. I wonder if this might be something that would work great in an F1 engine?

[@bishop9598]

Hmmm, doesn't sound like there is much developing left to do for an OEM, and yet there is definitely a need for further efficiency improvements in ICEs - as BEVs are quite a ways off from taking over the vehicle market. It is easy to think of EVs (plugins/charging of vehicles) for daily use will be a big part of where the industry will end up in - but ICEs will be around for an easy decade or two (if not more). Think in terms of what it would take for all the ppl that live in apartments, multi-family housing, even stand-alone houses that do not have a garage - so that they can plug it in at night (or when they are home).

[@MSportsEngineering]

OEMs can make tons of money selling more fuel efficient engines and they can also save significantly on carbon taxes. Frankly, you don't know what you're talking about if you think that fuel-saving ICE development is not a high priority for most manufacturers.

[@Miata822]

And of course this sends me straight down the rabbit hole of high speed switching hardware. Then again a spark gap on the primary circuit can generate some very high frequencies too. My lawnmower cringes at the experiments to come. It has painful memories of last time.

[@davidgrisco1939]

I was hoping for the question; "Has an engine manufacturer signed on to this technology yet?"

[@DocWolph]

Currently is seems unlikely any manufacture is going to sign on for this, as they are throwing so much money at EVs, particularly BEVs. If Govt pressure was not so great with, timelines bordering on unreasonable, Automakers might be lining up to at least try the technology out. I know Detroit would gladly use it, if it works, to keep the V8 relevant.

[@ALMX5DP]

@@DocWolph Mazda has been pursuing quite a few different ICE innovations over the past decade. I'd think they would be one of the first to try and adopt one of these to use with their HCCI engines.

[@nc3826]

@@ALMX5DP actually Mazda calls it SPCCI (HCCI, doesn't use a spark plug).... but I had the same thought too since, they seem complementary to each other.... But SPCCI only uses a spark, part of the time, so that would have to change... and it would add more cost to already complex and costly design...

[@adriaanvantulpenbaard1740]

@@DocWolph 20% more efficient is great 50% less nox is great.

[@just1lifexx11]

Nice

[@louiscardinale1701]

When will this be made available to the public for after market use ?

[@MADMAX7330]

Would plasma ignition be more prone to knocking at the MBT limit?

[@jeffreydevoti8528]

Works perfectly in theory every time. Put prototypes on the road to prove it works. And don't add absurdly complicated imposible to repair systems to already, well you get the idea.

[@nc3826]

impossible to repair??? explain how??? so simple is more reliable? have fun with a car that uses "points and condensers" and the other crap that constantly would wear out....

[@claytonroot806]

Yup! As Elon Musk has said, "Everything works in PowerPoint", "Show Us Something Real". Not sure if the latter part of that was Elon's comment but you get the idea. Of course he was talking about all the SUPPOSEDLY revolutionary battery tech being developed around the world, As the largest consumer of batteries in the world, Tesla knows that whoever actually comes up with a WORKING breakthrough that is manufacturable at volume, will approach Tesla first with their technology. It would appear that the BEST Elon has seen so far was from Maxwell, so he bought the company. A few of the former top Tesla Battery Engineers have gone on to form their own companies and some of those are showing promising developments as well. When I hear the word PLASMA, Nuclear Fusion Reactors come to mind and we all know how fast that technology is progressively. It'll always be ready 30 YEARS from now!

[@jeffreydevoti8528]

Had cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles and garden tractors with points & condencers, and work just fine. Had more problems with shoddy materials like; plastic teeth on cam gears, timing belts (especially on interference engines). There's been much more over the last 40 years working on vehicles.

[@nc3826]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_torch.... and thx for pointing out that cult drones are mindless fools with nothing useful for add to the conversation...

[@tonygreen8221]

Great tech. A shame it’s arrived at the end of the ICE engines, but great that it can still play an important part in cleaning those engines up while we transition to electric.

[@user-io6fd3zr3o]

Can you purchase this for any ICE if so where and how much would it cost?

[@tipoomaster]

So when is this going to go anywhere? All I see is years old news

[@nc3826]

The geek in me loved, how well this interview laid out the pros and cons.... But it seems like it will be to costly and is to late to party for ICEVs??? But in larger apps like NG peaker plants or Cogen, it could makes sense, maybe? BTW love the mindless cult drone trolling comments too :)

[@elkhunter307]

Ok can I put it on my old Jeep?

[@jameshoffman552]

10:25 ‘There’s no jumping ahead to EVs’ Tell that to #ModelY let alone #Model3 - best selling sedan by revenue.

[@Iamwolf134]

Along with the Semi, the roadster, and the cybertruck, the latter 3 being *vaporware* atm!

[@JRP3]

@@Iamwolf134 Actually there are running versions of all three of those. That's some pretty solid vapor.

[@th600mike3]

@@JRP3 Nothing like the claims being made. The battery tech to support elon's myriad of power to weight claims are only going to come about with some kind of solid state battery. Meanwhile, the infrastructure is a joke. And how we create electricity is a joke as well.

[@JRP3]

@@th600mike3 Wrong on all points.

[@jhixx8910]

@@th600mike3 The Semi might is probably most likely going to come out to the market, the roadster might come out, but it would cost way more than $200,000 (designing a car that can to go 250 mph safely requires a shit load of R&D and testing compared when designing a car that goes under 186 mph. The Cybertruck with its current design is never going going on market, since it’s made from stainless steel which it is poor for pedestrian safety or even the occupants inside the car since a car is designed to crumple on an accident.

[@stephendoherty8291]

Would it work with hydrogen? Could do alot to help truck engines where cutting emissions will become very critical. Could they clean up marine diesel or natural gas marine propulsion. Would be interesting too see it in motorsport as a test platform. Plugs still used in motorbikes...

[@MSportsEngineering]

This is great for diesel. TP ignition breaks down the large, hard to combust fuel molecules and helps them burn more efficiently. With the right packaging, it could be useful in motorsport. I haven't checked, bit I believe similar systems have been used in F1.

[@bdjm8595]

F1 tech for the rest of us!!!

[@LewdCustomer]

If this won't work in EVs, it's just improving a buggy whip. Yet I'm intrigued by using plasma. It's all over the universe.

[@sergeykovalyov132]

At this point, Autoline Network mentioned three different ignition technologies: this Plasma Ignition, Jet Ignition (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJConXypjKiAZ68), and a Microwave Ignition (mentioned in kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZjEoYeGgrRoqLM). It would be interesting how these three stack against each other, and if there is any benefit combining them. Might be cool to invite representatives from each to a round table

[@hallkbrdz]

So essentially it is a Tesla coil for each cylinder that can be switched on and off in nanoseconds. Sounds good IF it is inexpensive and reliable. Combine this with free valve technology and the Koenigsegg TFG engine might be even more efficient.

[@brandoYT]

Only two auto makers - Ford & GM and you had to go to Sandia Labs ??

[@MSportsEngineering]

Did you not listen? The OEMs want to see work done at the labs before putting the tech on their engines.

[@bwilson4web]

Offer an after-market kit for performance tuners and it will soon succeed. But if you're looking for a big investor, it won't work.

[@rickcoleman8903]

Hardly the end of ice engines making them better or more efficient is great batteries are not as recyclable as ice technology lithium is not endless.

[@alexmckenna1171]

That is not the case. Virtually all of the battery can be recycled, saving having to mine the metals, even when it's after-life as fixed storage is over - and in any case lithium is very abundant.

[@earlpottinger671]

You know by the same logic the supply of iron/steel is not endless, the supply of oil is not endless, what does the term 'endless' have to do with whether a technology is good or bad?

[@adriaanvantulpenbaard1740]

batteries become less efficient when they age, also BEV use energy when not used and parked, at least 1% a day when the battery is new, and more for older batteries. The Dutch don't like this at all! I think the only reason they put up with it is because electricity is cheap and gas is expensive, but it is a waste of energy! Think about it 1% a day is 30% a month, that is 1/3 of a tank each month, just pure wasted energy, no mile driven pure waste!

[@MultiRafael23]

This is not around the corner I see it now.

[@firstbigbarney]

What are the advantages? If not better in all ways it will never be adopted .There will not be enough of a fuel savings and the low efficiency of ICE engines will still not be able to be overcome.

[@karlp8484]

This is really impressive. But it also highlights the importance of keeping CAFE type fuel efficiency and emission targets high, because left to their own devices the car manufacturers will only incrementally improve. The lazy bums need a kick up the arse on a regular basis.

[@MrSovetsky]

Could this tech breath new life in to the wankel engine? Sure hope so. Mazda, get a hold of this guy! NOW!

[@FEETLE]

those apex seals also needs to be improve, then my friend the Wankel will rise like the phoenix

[@Iahusha777Iahuah]

Well, I pray lord willing. Please let us have this. Anything firmed against this company and their success will not prosper

[@chefalbino]

optimizing a zombie?

[@MarkLLawrence]

This guy reminds me of a horse breeder trying to breed a faster horse that eats less. Didn't take long for autos to take over without an existing infrastructure for them. EVs will take over quicker than he thinks, especially since electricity is already everywhere.

[@mbukukanyau]

I used to love this show, until it became quite clear to me that the people running it were Democrat hacks. They lost me there and then.

[@alexmckenna1171]

Burning oil still? I hope not. What a terrible waste of effort - rather sad.