Luxury automakers have been chasing total fuel burning in their combustion engine chambers for decades, employing multiple techniques and tweaks to the traditional spark plug over the years to maximize burn. Burning all the fuel in the chamber means you get the most energy available, resulting in more efficient and powerful engines.
Now, JLR (otherwise known as Jaguar Land Rover) has patented a new technology that’s said to burn fuel better with laser beams. If it’s as efficient as suggested, perhaps the combustion-powered F-Type could someday return, though the Jaguar part of JLR has said that’s not ever happening.
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Jaguar
Jaguar is a premium car manufacturer from the UK, currently owned by the broader Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) group. Originally a producer of motorcycle sidecars from 1922 (under the name Swallow Sidecar Company), the manufacturer later moved to the production of passenger car bodies under the ownership of SS Cars from 1935. In 1945, SS Cars was renamed to Jaguar Cars. The manufacturer has a historic back catalog of vehicles, notably the XK, E-Type, and XJ220, with modern hits including the F-Type and F-Pace. Jaguar has pledged to become an all-electric automaker starting in 2025, with production of all combustion cars ceasing early in 2024. The brand has launched an all-new identity for its future as an electric luxury automaker.
- Founded
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September 1935
- Founder
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Sir William Lyons, SS Cars
- Headquarters
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Coventry, United Kingdom
- Owned By
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Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
- Current CEO
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Adrian Mardell
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Land Rover
Land Rover is an SUV-exclusive premium brand established in 1948 by the Rover Company as a maker of utilitarian 4×4 vehicles including the iconic Defender. Ownership changed multiple times between then and now, but since 2012, it has been part of the broader Jaguar Land Rover group (now JLR), which is owned by India’s Tata Motors. Land Rover has remained steadfast in its production of SUVs only, now split into three sub-brands, Discovery, Defender, and Range Rover. Discovery models focus on the mainstream, Defender on off-road prowess, and Range Rover as the company’s most luxurious vehicles.
- Founded
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1948
- Founder
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Rover Company
- Headquarters
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Coventry, United Kingdom
- Owned By
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Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
- Current CEO
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Adrian Mardell
How Would Lasers Work In An Engine?
According to the patent details, multiple laser emitters are located and pointed around the chamber in various positions that can target various portions of the combustion chamber, with some configurations also including beam splitters for multiplied laser action. The patent seems to mention a max-out of six positioned lasers in one configuration, with too many trade-offs for weight and other considerations beyond that point, according to the patent.
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The idea, basically, is to create multiple ignition points in the air-fuel mixture in the engine, for faster and more complete fuel burning. It’s like pre-chamber ignition, but even better.
A Possible Replacement For Spark Plugs
It’s not clear if this new laser ignition system works in conjunction with a traditional spark plug setup, which could make sense: fire the plug and shoot the lasers at the same time, to get the big spark started but catch the unburnt fuel in various parts of the chamber. However, the patent does say the lasers provide an advantage “over” spark plugs, so it could be meant to replace them completely.
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Although spark plugs aren’t too expensive, we certainly can appreciate one less item to tick off when servicing a car. Moreover, this more thorough and complete combustion cycle could not only improve overall efficiency but also reduce the potential for carbon build-up, thus further enhancing the longevity and performance of the engine.
Potential Packaging Problems
Critics might point out the packaging struggles of such a system in the high-temperature environment of an engine bay and combustion chamber; the components would have to be very extremely rugged to avoid deformation while still delivering absolute precision.
While JLR may have already pivoted to an all-electric future with the Jaguar brand, the Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover brands continue to fly the combustion flag for Land Rover for the time being, and although this technology is not guaranteed to make its way to any real car ever, it’s certainly encouraging to see that JLR is continuing to explore the possibilities. All it takes is one major breakthrough, and the combustion conversation could change very quickly.
Patent filings do not guarantee the use of such technology in future vehicles and are often used exclusively as a means of protecting intellectual property. Such a filing cannot be construed as confirmation of production intent.
Source: UK Patent Office via CarMoses
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