News & Resources

British stars of the Paris Motor Show

8 Oct 2010

UK micro-jet gas turbine technology, backed by a UK Government Transport Strategy Board grant, provides a key component to the Jaguar C-X75, the star of the Paris motor show. Two of the Bladon Jets gas turbines are linked to a pair of electric power generators by British firm SR Drives.

Together the project is worth £2.2m and is backed to the tune of £1.1m by a Technology Strategy Board grant. The UK designed and engineered turbines power the electric-hybrid Jaguar supercar design, which offers a window on future British low-carbon automotive technologies.

Jaguar estimates that the C-X75 would rate a very low 28g/km in the EU combined cycle fuel consumption test, yet still be capable of 205mph. The Jaguar represents the latest thinking in hybrid-electric technology and also features a lithium ion battery pack forecast to be capable of a 68 mile all-electric range. Each of the 70kW turbines spins up to 80,000 rpm and weighs just 35kg each.

The lithium ion battery pack can be fully recharged in six hours by plugging into a domestic electricity supply. Jaguar is confident that the Bladon Jets turbines can be developed into a reliable power source for demanding automotive duty cycles in “two to three years”, with a further “three to four years” needed to integrate them into a vehicle. Much of the electric running gear in the C-X75 concept is shared with the Limo Green project for a fuel efficient luxury saloon of the future.

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