Cool video I ran across on youtube. I know Koenigsegg uses this on their multi million dollar super cars but it looks like they are working to integrate it into regular cars. I found this video to be very interesting, especially the part where they say the valves control the throttle, no throttle blade! When do you think they will come out with a conversion for my W2 heads? lol

https://youtu.be/S3cFfM3r510

Pneumatic valvetrain is not new, also not allowed per the NHRA rule book as I recall for some reason

Electric and pneumatic are fairly common on research engines. Fiat uses Multiair, which uses a long base cam profile and can hydraulically control open/closing/lift.

From an efficiency standpoint, the focus is mainly de-throttling to reduce pumping losses at part load, these concepts also help in transient response, as even modern VVT is quite slow.

There are some challenges though, load control is very difficult, because if the valve events are varying by a small amount (1-2 degrees every cycle) the engine will be perceived as rough. Even with Multiair, Fiat was not able to open the throttle completely at low loads.

He says the valve train is controlled by pneumatic but I didn't see any hoses or fitting on those valve actuators
I did see spade tip electrical connectors on the things that look like EFI injectors around the valves
As already mentioned pneumatic valve control has been used in Formula 1 racing for a long, long time. I remember hearing that those motors where running in the 20,000 + RPM years ago, maybe back in the mid to late 1980s

The F1 valvetrain uses nitrogen because there is no moisture to be concerned with.

I know the pneumatic valve train has been around awhile. It was just interesting to hear all the things that could be done with it.

That is a ridiculously complex way to achieve 200 some horsepower in a passenger car engine.

A small block V8 would be way simpler, more reliable, and run circles around it for a fraction of the cost.

Redneck thinking !!! I guess you missed the part about the percentage increase in horsepower and torque as well as the weight savings.

That's why it will never be in mass production. It's an exponential increase in complexity for an incremental increase in efficiency over a modern VVT+Turbo engine. A small block at 200 hp isn't going to happen either, most of those are close to twice that number. That level of development is fine for the multimillion dollar hypercars and high level racing stuff. Higher efficiencies for pass cars aren't coming for ICEs, it's going to be EV.

Never say never, at one time the computer controlled fuel injection, VVT and ignition were thought to be way to expensive for the common man.

Warren Johnson advocated pneumatic valve springs many years ago saying that the cost would be less than the huge valve spring bill Pro Stock teams had then and still have now.

Amen to that.....

Did any of you guys watch that video till the end?!?, all the advantages to this style valves mean I bet we'll be seeing them soon.....much sooner than you all think.....makes engine shorter, smaller, and simpler and perform much better? This is a no brainer over direct injection......Which IS being used today.

I've been accused of only having 10 sec. attention span...

Shorter smaller, who cares? messed up priorities. THe best looking car have room under the hood. Simpler? electronics vs mechanical? Apparently they think electronics is simple. Better performance? only compared to their other crap, not compared to a Hemi.

I believe the f1 engines are using air springs not necessarily pneumatic controls, they just return the valve like a spring normally would with air trapped under the retainer with a traditional cam lobe opening it, it allows less "spring" pressure when RPM is low and increased pressure as the RPM goes up and there is no fatigue or [censored] monic oscillation like metal springs will exhibit.. To the best of my understanding this freevalve thing is an electronic solenoid that opens and closes the valve and so has infinite amounts of lift and duration possibilities in a nanosecond.

He calls it pneumatic in the video but I see big solenoids especially around 7:40 its very clear so maybe they are using some of both.