Hybrid engine research

Norbert Mueller, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, will lead a team of MSU researchers to create a wave disk generator, a prototype of a more fuel-efficient engine for hybrid electric vehicles. The project is funded by a $2.5 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, awarded last week. "We want to save energy,” Mueller said. “It’s good for our lifestyle to save energy."
MSU news

The wave disc generator could cut carbon emissions by about 90 percent compared to cars on the road today, Mueller said. One of the ways the new engine cuts energy use is by reducing friction in the engine by having a single rotating part making the vehicle lighter, he said. Mechanical engineering professor Patrick Kwon will work to make a ceramic prototype of the wave disk generator, that will allow researchers to test the model in different settings.