The guys at Toyota Central are developing 10kW Free Piston Linear Generator Prototype! It features a thin and compact build with very high efficiency and fuel flexibility! Toyota is intending with a pair of these units to enable B/C segment electric vehicles to cruise at 75 mph! The Toyota engineers presented this concept at the 2014 SAE World Congress that was held in Detroit. The FPEG is composed of a two stroke combustion chamber, a gas spring chamber and a linear generator! This prototype is very attractive as it offers low friction, thermal efficiency and low vibration! The piston of the FPEG works in the following way. It is powered by the combustion gas and magnets installed on the piston which are moving in a linear coil. That way they convert the produced kinetic energy into electrical energy!
The primary structural feature of this Free Piston Linear Generator is an empty circular step shaped piston! Toyota calls this the “W-Shape”! On the other hand, the smaller diameter part of the piston is composed of a combustion chamber, while the larger diameter side is composed of a gas spring chamber! In the video below you will have the opportunity to exactly see how Toyota`s FPEG precisely works!
To read more about the free-piston linear generator, follow this link!
