General Motors loses spark
New engine technology could be major fuel saving step forwardAmid the uncertainty and bad news that has engulfed General Motors in recent months, work continues behind the scenes to prepare the company for a more fuel-efficient future. GM engineers in Detroit are working on a new technology known as homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) that has the potential to cut fuel use by 15 per cent on petrol engines.
The concept behind HCCI is similar to the technology used in diesel engines. According to GM, the technology works by using the heat and pressure inside the cylinders to ignite the air/fuel mixture without requiring a spark plug for ignition. However, because the process requires heat, a spark plug is required when the engine is cold -- before reaching HCCI operating temperatures.
One of the key advantages of HCCI is that it uses a conventional exhaust system, unlike diesel engines. GM claims that HCCI "approaches the efficiency of a diesel" and is able to burn fuel faster at lower temperatures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The technology is already being developed on the other side of the world by Mercedes-Benz (more here).
The man leading the development is Prof. Dr. Uwe Grebe, executive director for GM Powertrain Advanced Engineering. He claims that the technology not only reduced fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent, it does so without any loss of power.
"HCCI delivers enhanced fuel savings without sacrificing the performance consumers have come to expect," says Grebe. "It is a great example of how GM is developing advanced engine technology for consumers that squeezes more miles per gallon of gas and reduces emissions."
However Grebe and his team need to overcome the problems of getting HCCI to work not only in cold climates but also at high altitudes.
An HCCI equipped engine has already been fitted to a Saturn Aura for real world development but GM hasn't indicated any timeframe for the technology to become production ready.
But before that GM needs to sort out the financial predicament it currently finds itself in.
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