Ontario motor designer offers ‘perfect solution’ to fuel crisis

Aug. 28, 2008

Is it too good to be true, or is it the next step in breaking free from our dependence on oil? The Windsor Star has reported that an ex-Chrysler Canada employee has designed and patented an electromagnetic piston motor that’s (in his words) the “perfect solution” to the fuel crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Inventor Michael Axford, who has been working on his project since he took a buyout from Chrysler 15 months ago, is in the process of acquiring a patent in Canada (right now he holds a Mexican patent, which he says was cheaper to acquire). According to Axford, the invention eliminates fuel lines, gas tanks and the exhaust system while retaining all the remaining service parts and, he says he’s close to finishing a prototype.

In an interview with the Southern Ontario newspaper, he explained how it works: “A centre spool in the cylinder head is wrapped with copper coils. When a driver turns the key, the battery sends voltage to the coil—which then becomes an electromagnet—instead of to the spark plugs and the magnet drives the pistons.”

While there may be similar products in various stages of development, Axford says, only his uses magnets of identical polarity so the pistons are driven down into the cylinders with a pulse of magnetic energy. The pistons travel just 3-1/2 inches and he says the electromotive force is sufficient to drive them all the way through the cylinder.

He says that his just uses a repelling motion to drive the pistons—rather than a combination of repelling and attraction—which can cause problems in the delivery of power. “Electromagnets are strong enough to pull trains, so there’s no issue with them being strong enough to drive the pistons,” he told the Star.

But as with most such inventions, it isn’t skeptic proof. The concept has been charged with being an attempt at perpetual motion—which would be in violation of the law of conservation of energy.

In addition, whether or not the batteries would have enough charge to drive the magnets is something that has yet to be seen, but with a prototype on the horizon, he has a chance to prove his concept.

He says it should perform similarly to existing engines; it idles at 500 RPM, and once the gear is engaged, there’s immediate roll without delay or jerkiness. As well, all the blocks will be made of non-magnetic aluminum, and the electromagnets and the cylinder will be covered as not to affect the car’s electronics.

The hopeful Axford, a self-professed car buff, plans to retrofit a Saturn once he takes delivery of some magnetic discs from a manufacturer in China. When the prototype is complete, he’ll be in a position to stage demonstrations and plans to drive the vehicle across Canada to prove its reliability. Meanwhile, he’s hunting down government grants to help fund the demo and future prototypes.