Valeo signs up 'several global automakers' for camless engine

[nadepalma]

This is really interesting, though not the first time we've heard of it. I'd like to see how this plays out, but the promise of something like this would be huge. After the jump there is a line, "But Bock said one appealing point is that camless engines do not depend on fuel quality like diesel or gasoline direct-injection engines do" -- which hints at all kinds of things.

Anyway, thought it was worth posting....

SOURCE: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...24/PROMOBLOG01

Valeo signs up 'several global automakers' for camless engine
By JENS MEINERS | JESSE SNYDER | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
AutoWeek | Published 12/18/06, 10:46 am et

MORTEFONTAINE, France -- Valeo SA has several development contracts with automakers for its camless engine, industry sources say.

The technology is expected to be available in less than five years.

"We will have an engine on the market by 2010 or 2011," says Martin Haub, Valeo board member for r&d. "Development is under way."

A Valeo spokesman would not confirm the contracts but said the French supplier is "working with several global automakers" on camless engines. He declined to identify any of them.

At the proving grounds here near Paris, where journalists could drive a car with a prototype camless engine, Haub told Automotive News Europe that Valeo's project is half-camless - only the intake valves are electronically actuated. That gives 80 percent of the performance of a fully camless engine, which Valeo also is working on, at half the cost, he said.

Industry sources said the manufacturing cost of a four-cylinder, half-camless gasoline engine is about 300 euros (about $395 at current exchange rates) more than a conventional gasoline engine. When asked to confirm that price, Haub said Valeo's solution is substantially less than the price premium for a modern diesel engine.

Engine developers have long been interested in camless technology's promise of as much as 20 percent better fuel economy over a conventional engine.

Also, there is less complexity and less weight because mechanical camshafts and related parts are eliminated.

BMW is following developments in the technology but is concerned about cost and durability, says Christian Bock, the automaker's V-8 engine calibration general manager.

"The technical barrier is not the valve actuators but the sensors to make the thing work," he said. "The sensors (still) are not accurate enough and have engine-life durability and reliability issues."

MORE HERE

[prototype66]

sounds like more stuff to break and/or fail . me likey cams.

[asrapid]

Hm... camless doesn't mean that engine won't have direct injection. Is gm working on something similar...i know that when there was test car long ago ago (ford if i'm not mistaken) with test engine which was camless people who heard engine said it was unbelievable loud

[commodorecoops]

Hmmm... I think I'll stick to pushrod V8's thankyou very much... at least I know they're reliable. And sound good

[zl-1]

Chrysler was working on something similar a few years ago. I wonder what happened to that.

[WishIhadatruck]

I'm sure this will happen eventually. There is no reason it would be louder than a regular engine, the noise was due to some other variable I'm sure. It offers all kinds of advantages if the cost and reliability issues can be worked out. If you could infinitely control valve lift and timing that would be pretty amazing.

[KENB]

Imagine what could be done once you start playing with the PCM! Super fuel efficient well behaved car and then with a flick of a switch.....gas sucking, rough idling, tire smoking beast! Once they get past this reliability issue, this will the best thing a gearhead could ask for!

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by prototype66

sounds like more stuff to break and/or fail . me likey cams.

First it was electric cars and steam cars.
Then carbureted gas cars.
Side valve engines and inline 8 cylinders.
Overhead valve cam-in-block engines.
Automatic transmissions.
4+ gear automatic transmissions.
Electronic fuel injection.
Variable valve timing.
Variable intake geometry.
Continuously variable transmissions.
Sequential manual transmissions.
Dual-clutch sequential manual transmissions.
Direct injection.
Cylinder deactivation.

I'm certain that this camless engine technology will have a lot of problems in its first few years. But maybe in another 10 or 20 years, it will be as commonplace and reliable as four speed automatics are today.

[KingElvis]

Micheal S:

The first automatic was a 4 speed - Hydramatic had four gears -
3.97
2.48
1.48
1

It used the low first gear for lack of a 3 element torque converter.

[throwback]

I think this is very interesting and shows there is still plenty of life left in the "old" ICE.

[prowlerjc]

Didn't Renault have a camless F1 racer in the eighties? The valves were pnuematically operated.

[throwback]

Originally Posted by prowlerjc

Didn't Renault have a camless F1 racer in the eighties? The valves were pnuematically operated.

They did. BMW's F1 engine also uses pneumatic valves. I believe their production Valvetronic engines use a form of electronic valve openings.

[sklunk]

International Truck has been showcasing this technology in a "clean diesel" engine for years. Go to their site and do a search to find info on it:
http://www.internationaldelivers.com

Here is the International Truck site for the technology:
http://www.greendieseltechnology.com/

Here is the website for the company that was founded by the man who invented the digital valves used in camless engines:
http://www.sturmanindustries.com

[guitarlix]

Well, this is the future, so ultimately all manufacturers will offer camless engines.

[01cavalier]

This has been worked on for quite some time, the benefits could be great. Still, I worry that there would be too many problems, and the extra cost might not be worth it.