Innovation UK > News > Innovation News > Funding boost for automotive team

An automotive consortium has won funding from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to develop the Blade Supercharger?, which boosts downsized automotive engines.

Ricardo, Lontra and Ford Motor Company have been awarded grant funding to demonstrate Lontra?s Blade Supercharger and will integrate the unique technology with a downsized engine to create a Ford vehicle demonstrator.

The Blade Supercharger is a novel variable flow compressor that is able to meet the boosting requirements of heavily downsized engines. The grant support provided by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) will enable the development of the supercharger for Ford?s engine package, and the integration of the boosted engine into a vehicle demonstrator. Lontra and Ricardo engineers will work together to implement the project.

Commenting on the announcement, Jason King, chief engineer in the Ricardo Gasoline Engines Product Group, said: ?The Blade Supercharger shows significant potential in delivering efficiency whilst maintaining driveability. Ricardo welcomes the opportunity to bring its long experience of automotive innovation to the project.?

Simon Hombersley, Business Development Director at Lontra, said: ?Boosting automotive engines is one of Lontra?s initial three applications for our unique energy efficient technology. We?re very enthusiastic to work with such experienced partners in the automotive sector, and look forward to demonstrating the technology publicly next year.?

The team anticipate a vehicle demonstrator completed in 2010.