BorgWarner Buys ECCOS Ignition Technology

Standard ignition (left) vs ECCOS (right)

Vehicle powertrain components manufacturer BorgWarner has signed a contract with Florida based company Etatech for the purchase of advanced gasoline ignition technology (ECCOS - electrically controlled combustion optimization system), which is said to provide high-performing, lean burning engines with the possibility to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions compared with conventional combustion technologies.

"Our ignition experts at BERU Systems believe this will be the ignition technology of the future. The significant improvements in fuel economy and emissions provided by this technology may revolutionize the industry," Tim Manganello, BorgWarner and CEO said in a release. "Our focus on reducing emissions, increasing fuel economy and improving engine performance makes this technology a perfect fit for BorgWarner."

The new technology works by generating a high-energy electrostatic field inside the combustion chamber to improve combustion efficiency and speed. Having no heat-related electrode erosion, this system needs no maintenance. The system electronically controls various characteristics of the combustion cycle, further reducing emissions, improving efficiency and increasing horsepower.

To convert words to numbers, it is enough to say that this type of ignition technology improves energy efficiency by 40 percent. NOx emissions are reduced by 80 percent, while the dreaded CO2 emissions fell by 50 percent. These figures were obtained following independent lab tests.

BorgWarner hopes that this technology will replace the good old spark plugs within the next few years. The company plans on selling it for powertrain applications within several of its markets.

Etatech came to be in 2000 and it was initially a consulting engineering firm. The company says its goal is to develop an advanced ignition system, one that could control combustion rate and eliminate electrode erosion. Apparently, they did...