Interesting article on Toyota's linear engine design

[murf]

Despite the recent advent of usable, talented electric vehicles, combustion engines are likely to persist for quite some time, often as a component in plug-in hybrid and range-extended electric vehicles.
The onus then is on refining combustion power to work harmoniously with increasingly electrified vehicles — and Toyota’s new Free Piston Engine Linear Generator (FPEG) could be one solution.


http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/03/toyota-designs-a-combustion-engine-that-generates-electricity/

 

[GWcruiser]

Interesting concept, but two stroke? Errr... can you say efficiency backwards? I once heard gas turbines are the real future; limited in use mostly by cost though fuel prices can/will marginalize that factor; and the fact their flywheels can limit street performance (handling suffers with such large gyroscopic forces - not to mention the catstrophic effects when they try to stop suddenly, say in an accident).