Reflecting how vehicle manufacturers are now exploring other power options to supplement electrical power in the future, German car maker Porsche has just patented a six-stroke engine design.

It is a new evolution of the internal combustion engine that features an innovative new crankshaft to create additional compression and extra power. 

The standard four stroke cycle, as used in just about every ICE passenger car, is: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. Porsche has added two additional compression and power strokes. Its US Patent says it provides, “six individual strokes that can be divided into two three-stroke sequences." 

The special crankshaft design allows this to happen. In a normal four stroke engine only one in four strokes produces power. With this design it will be one in three, adding to power and efficiency. 

The general consensus is that Porsche may look to combine this design with efuels, another area where it is developing pioneering technology, with the possibility of developing a clean, green and highly efficient ICE option. 

Like any new technology cost will be a key factor, with the complexity of the design making it expensive. This might mean it goes the way of the majority of patent ideas and never makes production. However, the patent does show that Porsche has far from given up on internal combustion technology.