AutoblogGreen

Don't put gasoline in your diesel engine, unless you work at Argonne

Jonas Dalidd — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Emerging Technologies, HCCI

What do you get when you cross a diesel engine with its gasoline counterpart? If Steve Ciatti (pictured), a mechanical engineer at Argonne National Laboratory has anything to say about it, it'd be an offspring that is genetically superior to its parents. Taking the best features of diesel engines (high efficiency) and gasoline engines (lower particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions), a blend of the two might be the holy grail of modern, liquid-fueled engine design.

There are different ways to merge the two, and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is one of these technologies we've reported on in the past. Ciatti, though, is taking a slightly different approach by burning a lower octane fuel (80 to 85 RON, or Research Octane Number). This gasoline is easier to ignite than regular pump gas, but no where near the level of diesel fuel. Using a modified diesel engine (still no spark plugs or throttle) the diesel fuel injectors are able to spray fuel two or three times before ignition occurs at top dead center. The multiple fuel injections spread the fuel more evenly in the combustion chamber, which lowers particulate matter and NOx emissions compared to traditional diesel.

The added benefit of a lower octane fuel is that its easier to refine, making it very attractive to oil companies and BP and ConocoPhilips have taken notice of Ciatti's work. There is a downside, however, to this technology. Peak power drops approximately 25 percent, so this technology wouldn't be useful where ultimate power density is needed. However, since the torque curve stays essentially the same, we're willing to bet many people will trade a little top end power for a more efficient gas burning engine.

[Source: Wired | Image: Argonne National Laboratory]

Don't put gasoline in your diesel engine, unless you work at Argonne originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delphi to discuss next-generation direct injection at SIA Congress

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, HCCI

At the SIA (French Automotive Engineers Society) Congress in Rouen, France this week, Delphi will be presenting information on its latest-generation direct fuel injection and control systems for diesel engines. Delphi produces both electromagnetic servo injectors and the more advanced piezo-electric injectors. For the latest editions of both systems, Delphi has bumped the maximum operating pressures from the 2,000 BAR level that has been used in the last few years up to 2,400 BAR (34,800 psi). These higher pressure injectors allow for even greater delivery precision and better atomization of the fuel.

The recently introduced Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion with its 1.2-liter inline-three cylinder TDI diesel is the first to use the new higher-pressure servo injectors. The Polo is rated at 71 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle with 87 grams / kilometer of CO2 emissions.

Delphi will also present a paper on its new engine management system that incorporates real-time in-cylinder pressure measurement. Measuring pressure in the cylinder will be necessary for homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) systems, which are expected to come to market in about 2014-15. Read more about HCCI here.

[Source: Delphi]

Continue reading Delphi to discuss next-generation direct injection at SIA Congress

Delphi to discuss next-generation direct injection at SIA Congress originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 25 May 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus gets animated with its Omnivore engine technology

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Emerging Technologies, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Lotus, HCCI

Omnivore [(om-nuh-vawr)]: An animal whose normal diet includes both plants and animals. Human beings and bears, for instance, are omnivores.

So says Dictionary.com, at least. Ask the engineering boffins from Lotus, though, and they'll tell you than an Omnivore is an engine that can operate on just about any combination of gasoline or alcohol at equally optimum efficiency and power. An impressive feat, to say the least. But how does it all work?

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. So far, we've used nearly a hundred of 'em and we haven't even touched the surface on how Lotus' Omnivore engine works. That said, we highly suggest you take a gander at the firm's very own Flash animation of the process, which allows you to make all sorts of cool adjustments to see how changes in speed, fuel type and load impact the operation of the powerplant. Cool stuff. Thanks for the tip, Chris!

[Source: Group Lotus]

Lotus gets animated with its Omnivore engine technology originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus' Omnivore engine is already 10% more efficient, with more to come

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Lotus, HCCI

Last March at the Geneva Motor Show, Lotus announced its new Omnivore research engine. The Omnivore is a two-stroke direct injected engine designed to take advantage of the latest in electronic engine management to allow it to run on just about any liquid fuel (hence the name). In the time since the initial announcement, the boffins at Lotus Engineering have been exercising their creation on the dyno stand to evaluate the performance.

The single-cylinder engine uses an air-assisted direct injection system. A movable "puck" in the top of the cylinder head allows the compression ratio to be varied.

The engine has so far been run on gasoline and in both spark ignition and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) modes. The HCCI mode is of particular interest because it is capable of providing diesel engine-like efficiency without the particulate and NOx emissions that require expensive after-treatment systems in a standard diesel engine. Lotus is claiming the Omnivore can operate in HCCI mode in a wide variety of operating conditions and even from a cold start, something that has been problematic for previous HCCI engines. According to the initial test results, the Omnivore is achieving up to a 10 percent improvement in efficiency (as measured by Indicated Specific Fuel Consumption) compared to existing spark ignition direct injected engines.

There is clearly a lot of work yet to do, but the concept behind Omnivore shows significant promise.

Gallery: Lotus Omnivore engine

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus' Omnivore engine is already 10% more efficient, with more to come

Lotus' Omnivore engine is already 10% more efficient, with more to come originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM's HCCI engines now run from idle to 60 mph!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: GM, HCCI

Since our first encounter with General Motors' HCCI (homogeneous charge compression ignition) engines in August 2007, the powertrain research engineers at the GM Tech Center in Warren, MI have continued plugging away at the technology, trying to turn it into a marketable reality. The basic premise of compression ignition is simple. Based on the Ideal gas law (PV=nRT), if you decrease the volume of a particular quantity of air, the temperature rises to the point where fuel will spontaneously combust.

The hard part is controlling the pressure, temperature and air/fuel mixtures precisely enough to manage that combustion without causing excess noise and engine damage. When we first tried the HCCI prototypes a couple of years ago, the engines had a fairly narrow band of HCCI operation with the engine running in basic spark ignition mode the rest of the time. Thanks to a newly developed mixed-mode HCCI feature and external EGR, the engines can now run in HCCI from idle all the way to 60 mph!

We had a chance to drive a Saturn Aura with an HCCI engine based on the 2.2-liter EcoTec four-cylinder around the streets near the Tech Center. The engine ran smoothly and transitions between HCCI and spark ignition really couldn't be felt. The only indication of a transition was a slight ringing sound over the first couple of power cycles after transition.

The basic hardware for a production HCCI engine is in place now, with the only new piece of hardware being a combustion chamber pressure sensor. GM is continuing to work on the control software to make this a robust system and even adapting the homogeneous charge and pressure sensors to diesel engines to reduce NOx emissions. The HCCI engine achieves about a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to a similar spark ignition engine at a much lower cost than a hybrid. GM hopes to have HCCI engines in production in about five years.

[Source: Green Fuels Forecast]

Continue reading GM's HCCI engines now run from idle to 60 mph!

GM's HCCI engines now run from idle to 60 mph! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 25 May 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM powertrain plans: high-tech, low weight

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:05:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, GM, HCCI, Lightweight

Click above for more early images of the production Chevy Volt

It's no secret that we appreciate what General Motors has been able to do with just two-liters. The direct injected and turbocharged mill powering the rear-wheel drive Solstice GXP and Sky Redline along with the front-wheel drive HHR SS and Cobalt SS models is an excellent one. What's more, its 260 horsepower represents 130-horsepower per liter, the highest ever from a GM production engine and on par with the best from the world. Expect to see more of this kind of technology from new GM engines along with more six-speed transmissions. Also expect an ever-higher percentage of aluminum to appear in all engines from all manufacturers.

GM also has plans for diesels and hybrids. The upcoming 4.5-liter diesel for full-size trucks and SUVs manages to weigh about seventy-five pounds less than other diesels of similar size. On the hybrid front, Automotive News says that GM will offer one new hybrid per quarter for the next four years -- that's sixteen new hybrids. That number would not include the Volt, a car which GM considers fully electric with a range-extender, and is something we've heard for a while now.

GM is also hard at work on HCCI engines, which we have covered extensively and offer the promise of diesel-like economy with the ability to use gasoline. Fuel cells are still on the table, though we'd imagine that today's tough financial times could slow down the development of GM's hydrogen plans. We'll take the trade-off of an HCCI engine over a hydrogen fuel cell as it would likely have a much larger impact and be ready for primetime much sooner.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

GM powertrain plans: high-tech, low weight originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bosch CEO talks lithium ion batteries and diesels

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, HCCI

In the wake of a new lithium ion battery joint venture, Bernd Bohr, CEO of Bosch is not concerned that automakers will try to keep battery production in house. In an interview with German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, Bohr was asked about the fact that several automakers including Toyota, Mitsubishi and Nissan are involved in their own joint ventures for lithium batteries. Bosch is investing $300-400 million in a venture with Samsung to produce automotive lithium batteries. Bohr feels it will take 10-15 years for lithium batteries to become dominant so the company still has the opportunity to come to the forefront of the technology and play a leading role. While the Samsung will start with Korean production Bohr intends to eventually expand to other locations as well. By the time lithium batteries become mainstream in electric vehicles, Bohr expects the energy density to increase by a factor of 3-5 times. With Bosch's experience in power tools and appliances the company already has plenty of in-house motor technology that they are now applying to hybrid and electric drive systems. By 2015 Bohr expects hybrids to account for about 2.5-3 million vehicles annually with another 800,000 battery electrics.

Before electrics take over the world though, Bohr expects diesel engines to pick up another five points of market share taking 28 percent of the global market by mid-decade. In spite of elevated diesel prices right now, Bohr believes that diesel will be the only way to meet coming CO2 emissions standards and taxes in the near to mid-term. According to Bohr investments are being made to increase diesel refining capacity that will alleviate the price pressures by 2010. Bohr mentioned that HCCI engines could appear in production before 2015 which will also help reduce consumption and emissions. Bosch is also focusing on large volumes of the most cost-effective methods such as auto start-stop systems which are expected to be on 50 percent of European cars by 2012.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Bosch CEO talks lithium ion batteries and diesels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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General Motors opens new powertrain engineering center that will create E-Flex

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:34:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Emerging Technologies, Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, MPG, Chevrolet, GM, Natural Gas, HCCI

On Friday GM officially kicked off use of its new Powertrain Engineering Development Center in Pontiac MI. The new $463 million facility includes 120 dynamometer test cells for exercising all manner of new drivetrains. Among those cells 20 are specifically dedicated to testing motors for electric and hybrid drive systems. Others are split among fueled and non-fueled cells for testing gas, diesel, and flex-fuel engines and transmissions respectively. A new quick connect pallet system allows technicians to assemble a test configuration outside the cell and then have it installed and running within 20 minutes. The photo above showse a technician connecting the 1.4L engine and generator combination that will serve as the Chevy Volt range extender.

[Source: Green Fuels Forecast]

General Motors opens new powertrain engineering center that will create E-Flex originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM HCCI engine can operate at idle

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: GM, HCCI

General Motors first showed off its prototype Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engines last summer in an Opel Vectra and a Saturn Aura. We had the opportunity to drive these vehicles at GM's Milford Proving Ground at a very early stage of development. Because HCCI only works at part throttle conditions (while engines in cars have to work under all conditions), these new power plants have the ability to switch modes on the fly between HCCI and spark ignition. When we drove the cars, the HCCI only operated when driving at up to 55mph. At higher speeds or loads or when idling, the engine was in normal spark ignition mode.

GM's researchers continued developing the HCCI engine over the intervening 10 months and it is now able to operate in HCCI mode at idle as well. They demonstrated the HCCI Aura to journalists in California earlier this week and, according to Mike Levine of PickupTrucks.com, it's making good progress. The basic hardware to make HCCI work exists with direct injection, variable valve timing and pressure and temperature sensors in the combustion chamber. The key now is to develop the control algorithms to manage the sparkless combustion. The beauty of HCCI is the potential to improve fuel consumption to almost diesel levels without the expensive aftertreatment systems. HCCI engines can also operate on conventional gasoline or even ethanol.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM HCCI engine can operate at idle

GM HCCI engine can operate at idle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes wants to eliminate petroleum from its lineup by 2015

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:04:00 EST

Filed under: Biodiesel, Diesel, Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes Benz, HCCI

By the middle of the next decade Mercedes-Benz wants its entire lineup to be able to operate entirely free of petroleum. The German giant is working on a variety of technologies that will help provide crude oil free transport such as battery electrics, fuel cells and highly efficient internal combustion engines that can operate on biofuels. Mercedes has recently been letting European journalists sample some of these new powertrains at a test facility in Spain.

The F700 concept that debuted last fall in Frankfurt is powered by a turbocharged DiesOtto engine. The DiesOtto is Mercedes' branding for a combined HCCI and spark ignition engine that provides nearly the same efficiency as a diesel without the need for the expensive after-treatment systems. This and conventional diesel engines can run on biofuels and Mercedes hopes to launch the DiesOtto in production by 2010. Mercedes is also currently field testing electrically-driven vehicles with both batteries alone and fuel cells each of which they also plan to launch at the beginning of the decade. While it may well be that all Mercedes models in 2015 will be capable of running petroleum free, the reality is that many - if not most - will still be using fossil fuels much of the time. That may come in the form of coal for electricity, natural gas reformed into hydrogen, or petroleum fuels blended with biofuels. But you have to start somewhere.

[Source: The Sun]

Mercedes wants to eliminate petroleum from its lineup by 2015 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM to debut HCCI on Opel Insignia?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, GM, HCCI, Opel

Click on the HCCI equipped Opel Vectra for a high-res gallery

There are rumors floating around the interwebs today regarding the Opel Insignia being the first official product from General Motors using its highly-efficient homegeneous charge compression ignition, or HCCI for short. We can't confirm these rumors at this point, as GM has made no official announcements at all regarding the future of its HCCI engines. We do, however, know that engineers in crisp white lab coats are currently hard at work perfecting the technology. Therefore, we'd expect their efforts to bear fruit sooner or later. Exactly what vehicle the HCCI engine will first appear in, though, remains a mystery.

While we're on the subject of the HCCI engine, why not go ahead and peruse our explanation of how the technology works. GM's FYI blog also has a bit of a primer on the technology that may be worth a look too. Because an HCCI engine can provide a fifteen percent boost in fuel economy to go along with reduced emissions, we're rather excited about the prospect of seeing this technology in production as soon as possible.

[Source: Motor Authority and Auto Express, thanks for the tip, gmcbob]

GM to debut HCCI on Opel Insignia? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 29 May 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Does diesel have a future?

Xavier Navarro — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:06:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, HCCI, UK

Does diesel have a future? Autoexpress editor Dan Strong believes the answer is a clear no. He doesn't mince words in his new column: "Thanks to high fuel costs, tough-to-meet emissions targets and growing competition for scarce fossil fuel resources, the engine once championed for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness is finished." While the UK is getting closer to its European neighbors in the number of diesel sales, Strong believes this is not going to last.

If we're turning away from diesel, where does Strong think we have to look? Plug-in hybrids, he answers, but not those mated to diesel engines (gas-electrics are his choice). According to his information, a hybrid diesel will produce more pollutants due to the lower exhaust temperature and he wonders if it makes sense economically. Diesel fuel is actually more expensive than gasoline in the UK: £1.25 per liter compared to £1.10, which he translates into £350 more per year when driving 20,000 miles per year.

Sparkless engines aren't totally done for, Strong says, and expressed hope for HCCI (DiesOtto) engines. This technology has a very narrow powerband, which compromises reliability - but Strong says that Ford might be working on solving that issue.

[Source: Autoexpress]

Does diesel have a future? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 14 May 2008 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: GM's Paul Najt talks about HCCI engines

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: GM, HCCI

Last summer we had the chance to meet up with GM powertrain researcher Paul Najt and drive GM's prototype HCCI engines. Homegeneous charge compression ignition engines basically take some of the technical concepts behind diesel engines and combine it with a gasoline engine. The result is a new power system that achieves most of the benefit of diesel efficiency without the problems of soot and NOx emissions. As features like variable valve timing, direct fuel injection, cylinder pressure sensors and more powerful control systems have become available in engines, HCCI has become more practical. HCCI doesn't work well under all operating conditions, but engineers are learning how to blend HCCI and normal spark ignition operation seamlessly. The guys at Popular Mechanics had a chance to visit the GM research lab where the HCCI engines are being developed. There is a good interview with Najt and some explanation of how the engines work in a video on their site.

Gallery: General Motors HCCI cars

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

VIDEO: GM's Paul Najt talks about HCCI engines originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Most promising green technologies number six: HCCI

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, HCCI

Click on the image to view high-res shots of the Mercedes F700 concept

Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition, or HCCI, holds out a great deal of hope for green automotive enthusiasts. Mercedes-Benz has shown concept vehicles using the technology, which they refer to as DiesOtto, in their F700 concept vehicle pictured above. Like diesels, HCCI engines eschew spark-plugs in favor of compression ignition. Unlike diesels, HCCI burns gasoline, which could make them a popular choice in countries like the U.S. where gasoline is more widely available than diesel (and, currently in most areas, cheaper). HCCI engines could potentially allow for the emissions levels of gasoline with the efficiency of diesel and could be cheaper to produce than a comparably-powered diesel engine.

Over the hump to Number 5.

Most promising green technologies number six: HCCI originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler touting breakthrough in battery technology, increases R&D spending

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:49:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes Benz, HCCI

Click on the image to view high-res shots of the Mercedes F700 concept

As part of an annual meeting held in Berlin, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche says that the company will increase its R&D spending to $21 billion for the year 2010. A major part of those expenses will go towards alternative powerplants. Hydrogen and lithium ion batteries will make up a good chunk of these charges, and Zetsche claims that Daimler has made "a major breakthrough in battery technology." Regarding the heat generated by lithium ion batteries, Zetsche adds, "Daimler has solved the problem. Thanks to the integration of the vehicle's cooling system, the batteries can now operate continually at optimal system temperatures. This maximizes their power output; extends their service life, and make it possible to use this high-performance technology in automotive applications. We've protected this innovation with 25 patents."

Mercedes-Benz will continue to offer large, powerful and luxurious vehicles in each of the market segments in which it competes. What's more, Dr. Z adds, the company "aims to offer at least one model in each of the Mercedes-Benz core model series that is a leader in fuel consumption." We're reminded of the F700 concept that the company recently introduced. We would add that DiesOtto, or HCCI engines, could make a dent in Mercedes' overall fuel consumption statistics.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Daimler touting breakthrough in battery technology, increases R&D spending originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes boss doesn't plan to let cost be an issue for more efficient cars

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:17:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes Benz, HCCI

Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche told Motor Trend this week that increased cost was not going to be an issue for his company to meet new fuel economy standards. Obviously getting improved efficiency out of powertrains would make them more expensive as they have to meet U.S. CAFE and European CO₂ emissions limits. However, while U.S. executives like Bob Lutz are talking about adding $5,000 or more to the price to meet 35mpg standards, Zetsche looks at it differently. The use of clean diesels, HCCI DiesOtto engines, hybrids and fuel cells will raise prices. The higher initial purchase price will be offset for customers through reduced operating costs. According to Zetsche, if the cost premium can be recovered through fuel savings in the first 3-4 years of driving than customers will be satisfied. Mercedes also intends to protect their ten percent profit margins through increased efficiencies in other areas of the vehicle. That probably means that Mercedes owners will give up some features for improved efficiency. Of course for a premium brand like Mercedes, it's a lot easier to talk about protecting margins than it is for mainstream brands like GM and Ford. Being largely rid of the burden of Chrysler probably doesn't hurt either. Finally Zetsche says an S-Class diesel hybrid will debut in two years with DiesOtto engines about 3-5 years out.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Mercedes boss doesn't plan to let cost be an issue for more efficient cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2/4SIGHT engine concept switches between 2 and 4 stroke operation

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:49:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, HCCI

Until electric cars and their associated technologies (motors, batteries, controllers etc.) become mainstream, the internal combustion engine will need to be further refined in order to meet upcoming fuel economy requirements and current emissions regulations -- while still producing the power that consumers have come to expect. HCCI is one technology currently being developed to make these goals possible, while direct injection and turbocharging are simply becoming quite common.

Ricardo has developed a new prototype engine called 2/4SIGHT which could give HCCI a run for its money. An engine equipped with this new system is capable of running on either the 2 or 4 stroke engine cycle, allowing their V6 test-bed to be downsized from 3.5 liters to 2.0 liters while making the same power output. This downsizing leads to a 27 percent reduction in fuel consumption and correspondingly lowered emissions.

Ricardo believes that their 2/4SIGHT technology will be cost effective and easy to package for vehicle use. A video of the test engine switching from 2 to 4 stroke can be seen here.

Gallery: General Motors HCCI cars

[Source: Ricardo]

Continue reading 2/4SIGHT engine concept switches between 2 and 4 stroke operation

2/4SIGHT engine concept switches between 2 and 4 stroke operation originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz wins Safety and Technology award for DiesOtto

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:36:00 EST

Filed under: Mercedes Benz, HCCI

At their annual award ceremony, British magazine AutoCar singled out the Mercedes-Benz DiesOtto engine concept for recognition. The DiesOtto is a turbocharged homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine. It first appeared in the F700 concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. HCCI runs essentially as a diesel engine under certain operating conditions but runs on gasoline and produces far fewer emissions than a diesel without expensive after-treatment systems. The 1.8L engine produces the power of a 3.5L V-6 while achieving 44.3mpg.

Related:

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz wins Safety and Technology award for DiesOtto

Mercedes-Benz wins Safety and Technology award for DiesOtto originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Prius price up slightly, Camry hybrid and Yaris also up.

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, HCCI

Toyota announced the new price for the 2008 Prius hybrid yesterday, and the long and short of it is that it's slightly more expensive than before. $150 more, to be exact. This is a change of 0.7 percent. Other Toyota models also got a "mid-year price adjustments," including the Yaris and the 2009 Camry Hybrid. The Yaris models cost $50 more (up 0.4 percent) and the Camry Hybrid will be $150 more (up 0.6 percent). The Prius and Yaris price increases kick in December 17th; the Camry won't be available until January 21st.

Price increases for the RAV4 and 2009 Camry are in the press release after the break.

[Source: Toyota Motor Sales]

Continue reading 2008 Prius price up slightly, Camry hybrid and Yaris also up.

2008 Prius price up slightly, Camry hybrid and Yaris also up. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes releases two more efficient E-Class models in Europe

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Mercedes Benz, HCCI

At September's Frankfurt Motor Show Mercedes-Benz showed off an array of more efficient vehicles including diesels, HCCI and hybrids. Two of the new models are now rolling into Mercedes showrooms in Europe in the form of additions to the E-Class lineup. The new E300 Bluetec brings the latest urea-injected clean diesel technology to European drivers in a big sedan or wagon. The 211 hp V-6 yields over 31 mpg (US) on the EU combined driving cycle. Over on the gasoline-fueled side of the family, the E350 CGI is live action not computer generated imagery. The new second-generation direct injection system first appeared last year in the CLS 350 and now gives the E-Class an extra 15 hp while improving mileage to 27 mpg on the EU cycle, an improvement of ten percent.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes releases two more efficient E-Class models in Europe

Mercedes releases two more efficient E-Class models in Europe originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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