Can you imagine a hybrid engine that vibrates back and forth like a jackhammer, but instead of breaking asphalt it produces electricity? That's the basic concept behind an idea Toyota had conceived already in 2014: a hybrid engine without a crankshaft, which directly transforms the movement of the piston into electrical energy with an efficiency that makes traditional engines pale in comparison.
And do you know what the most frustrating part is? This engineering marvel has remained a concept, while we continue to debate the weight of batteries and the autonomy of electric cars. Sometimes the solutions are already there, hidden in some laboratory. For at least 3 reasons.
1 – Efficiency that defies traditional physics
The first reason why this hybrid engine could revolutionize the automotive sector is its incredible 42% efficiency. In a world where every decimal point of efficiency is celebrated as an epochal achievement, Toyota has created a system that drastically reduces friction thanks to the absence of the crankshaft. Think about it: most of the energy that is lost in traditional engines is dissipated precisely because of the friction between mechanical components.
The genius of this solution lies in its conceptual simplicity, although its implementation is far from trivial. The fuel burns, the piston moves, and this movement is transformed directly into electricity without any intermediate steps. Almost poetic in its linearity; yet it represents a radical rethinking of technologies that we have taken for granted for over a century.
The basic physics remains the same, but the approach is so different that I wonder how many engineers shook their heads and said “impossible” before anyone dared to build the first prototype.
2 – Compactness that revolutionizes design
The second reason it's ridiculously compact size: 60 centimeters long by 20 centimeters wide. A device that you can practically hug and that produces 15 horsepower from a single cylinder. In today’s automotive context, where every millimeter of space is precious, the possibility of having such a compact generator opens up completely new design scenarios.
Imagine the cars of the future, where the absence of complex transmissions and the possibility of integrating electric motors directly into the wheels could completely redefine vehicle interiors and weight distribution. No more bulky central tunnels, no more need for a massive front hood.
Toyota essentially designed a portable power generator that could be placed virtually anywhere in the vehicle, offering a freedom of design never before seen in the modern automobile era.
3 – Pragmatic solution to the electric transition
The third reason is perhaps the most important: this hybrid engine represents a pragmatic solution to the transition to electric mobility. Instead of debating the dichotomy "thermal vs. electric", Toyota he proposed a third way that takes the best of both worlds.
Reducing battery size means less weight, fewer rare earth materials to mine, fewer end-of-life disposal issues, and potentially lower costs. At the same time, 42% efficiency means significantly reduced emissions compared to traditional combustion engines.
It's an approach that acknowledges an uncomfortable truth: despite all the advances in battery technology, the energy stored in a litre of fuel remains impressively superior to that contained in a battery of the same size. This little generator could be the perfect bridge to an all-electric future.
I still wonder why, after 11 years, this concept has remained the same. Perhaps the technical challenges proved insurmountable, or perhaps market forces pushed in other directions. But at a time when we are desperately looking for solutions to reduce the environmental impact of transport, perhaps it is time to dust off this brilliant idea from the drawer where it has been forgotten.
