From today's issue of Autotech Daily:

HCCI ENGINE DEVELOPMENT ACCELERATES
The advent of more sophisticated electronic controllers is spurring renewed research and development into homogenous-charge compression-ignition (HCCI) engines, reports The Wall Street Journal. It notes that DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen all are working on the technology. An HCCI engine works similarly to a diesel powerplant: An air-fuel mixture is compressed until it heats enough to ignite. For gasoline engines, this combines the onethird greater fuel efficiency of a diesel system without the higher emissions of oxides of nitrogen and particulates associated with diesels. Automakers have been experimenting with HCCI technology for about three decades. But until now they’ve been stymied by technical challenges such as controlling the combustion process at lower and upper engine speeds, omething that is easier to do with high-powered electronic engine controllers. GM has developed an experimental engine that can operate in HCCI mode for about two-thirds of a typical engine’s operating range—including smooth low-speed idling. During cold starts and at heavy loads, though, the powerplant uses sparkplugs to smooth out the combustion process. The automaker estimates the combination would be onefourth more efficient than a conventional spark-ignition engine. Automakers also are developing gasoline direct-injection systems, which the Journal describes as a precursor to HCCI engines. With direct-injection systems, air and gasoline are injected separately into the combustion chamber instead of being mixed together beforehand. Honda began using the technology last year in its Japanese model Stream car, and Volkswagen is offering a gasoline direct-injection engine in its new Audi A6. Using HCCI and other advanced technologies would enable automakers to more than double the 20% thermal efficiency of current internal combustion engines. Honda, for one, estimates that an HCCI Accord converting 40%-50% of gasoline’s energy directly to power could get 50 mpg—double that of current Accords. And a gasoline-electric HCCIAccord could boost mileage to 70 mpg. Declares Honda CEO Takeo Fukui, “The possibilitiesfor improvement are almost infinite.”

 

Right now you can buy an Isuzu Rodeo or Axiom with a gas powered direct injection V6.

MikeyB

 

If you use less gas, the price will just go up more wouldn't you think?

 

Commatoze, any word on the octane requirements?
Nat

 

Oh great, like cars aren't complex enough already.

 

Direct injection gasoline engines have been available in Japan for a number of years. They offer higher power output and better fuel economy. Unfortunately, when running in their non-peak-power lean burn mode, their NOx emissions exceed U.S. standards. Those DI engines that have been brought to the U.S. have had their lean burn modes disabled.

Rusty

 

Part of the high cost of oil is supply issues due to ever increasing demand and no increases in refinery or distribution capacity. OPEC is constantly trying to reduce the cost of oil, not increase it, at least to a certain point.

I'd rather everyone conserve as much oil as possible so younger generations like mine will still have energy sources when we retire in 30 or 40 years.


Brian Elfert

 

No word on octane requirements.