“but does the author know anything about which he writes?”
Doesn’t sound like it.
Seems this is a hybrid akin to a diesel electric locomotive. Less moving drive-train parts...but energy conversion losses. Not sure what is so revolutionary about this one...and the author does nothing to explain how the valves are eliminated.
I've long thought that a good diesel electric drive would be great to use in automobiles. A good diesel will last pretty much forever. If the thing is running at optimal output all the time that it is on, it seems like it would be a real win. The big problem is conversion losses. Every time you convert energy from one form to another, you lose some. Thermodynamics simply won't allow anything else.