VanDyne supercharges forward

Fort Collins, Colo.-based VanDyne SuperTurbo’s proprietary new device collects waste heat from a car’s exhaust and uses it to propel the car—and that's attracted the attention of automotive heavy hitters.

Company CEO Ed VanDyne spoke today at the Cleantech Group’s Cleantech Forum XXIII in Boston as part of a showcase of startups seeking funding.

VanDyne, which spun out
earlier this week from industrial manufacturer Woodward Governor, is targeting its branded SuperTurbochargers for the global automotive market and for heavy duty engine manufacturers. Its product combines the low-speed performance of a supercharger with energy extraction capabilities of exhaust waste heat energy collection, the company claims.

VanDyne said that by coupling a turbocharger to a transmission, its product produces the same power from an engine half the normal size.

“It allows a downsized gasoline car engine to deliver 30 percent efficiency gains, while making the same power as the bigger engine it replaces,” he told a room of investors.

The device, invented by the CEO, is said to offer as much as 30 percent improvement in vehicle efficiency over gasoline-powered engines and 7 percent to 10 percent enhancement over diesel-powered engines.

In addition to increasing fuel efficiency, the company said the product helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase horsepower.

The company is seeking $5 million in a venture capital round next spring.

However, VanDyne said the company is looking for $500,000 to finish its angel round, and has also applied for $6 million in government funding. VanDyne SuperTurbo is projecting revenue of $1.2 million in 2011.

The CEO said the company’s first two main customers are a European automotive OEM, and a North American agricultural OEM. He didn’t provide specifics about either company, but said prototypes and delivery are slated in October 2009.

Last year, Honeywell (NYSE:HON) said it was planning to sell its fuel-saving turbochargers to Chinese truck and engine manufacturers.

A turbocharger increases an engine’s power output by compressing exhaust air and sending it back into the engine. The engine can pack more of the compressed air into a fuel cylinder, promoting better engine combustion and increasing fuel efficiency (see Honeywell turbocharges China).

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