The Freevalve concept
The Freevalve concept, also known as fully variable valve actuation, offers the unique ability to have independent control of the intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine.
For any engine load criteria, the timing of intake and exhaust can be independently programmed. Using artifical intelligence, the system can then inteligently “decide” based on perceived driving conditions which one to use to maximize performance or minimize fuel consumption and emissions. This allows a greater degree of control over the engine which in turn provides significant performance benefits.
While the fully variable valve actuation concept has been widely tested, no manufacturer has been able to implement it in large scale production due to various technical problems along with packaging disadvantages and higher cost. The Freevalve technology shows great promise of overcoming these challenges in a cost-effective way.
Watch Christian explain the Freevalve technology
Freevalve has overcome all of the typical challenges
Previous fully variable valve actuation engines use either electro-magnetic or electro-hydraulic to open the poppet valves.
Instead of using these actuator types, Freevalve uses electro-hydraulic-pneumatic actuators combined with advanced sensor techniques.
As a result, Freevalve has overcome all of the typical challenges faced by other cam-less techniques.
An opportunity that this technology enables is the customizability of the performance. Freevalve will leverage artificial intelligence to learn driving behaviors and optimize the valve timing parameters to match the driving conditions in near real-time.