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I've actually talked with people working at CARB during the early 1990's and they told me until the wide adoption of engine control computers and fuel injection around 1989, it was actually REALLY hard to get a gasoline engine to meet CARB emission control standards.

But once engine control computers and fuel injection became universally used, it allowed for very precise fuel metering and ignition timing, which made it possible to dramatically lower emissions without hurting performance and fuel economy. Indeed, the current CARB Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle Level 2 (ULEV-II) standard has its EPA equivalent: Tier 2 Bin 5, which most auto manufacturers strive to meet for a non-hybrid engine. The arrival of variable valve timing in the middle 1990's on a larger scale (e.g., Honda's pioneering VTEC system) allowed for even more precise control of ignition timing, and soon conventional gasoline engines could even meet the same emissions standard as those for hybrid vehicles.

Yes, I know a lot of people on FR are skeptical, but with engines now starting to get direct fuel injection and soon a really radical design called homogeneous combustion compression-ignition (HCCI), a small car could get over 50 mpg on the EPA 2008 test, possibly as early as 2015.

“Yes, I know a lot of people on FR are skeptical, but with engines now starting to get direct fuel injection and soon a really radical design called homogeneous combustion compression-ignition (HCCI), a small car could get over 50 mpg on the EPA 2008 test, possibly as early as 2015.”

Oh I am so impressed.

My 1972 Citroen 2CV got over SIXTY mpg.

a small car could get over 50 mpg on the EPA 2008 test, possibly as early as 2015.

Have one of those now (53mpg city/65mpg hwy). But I'm riding around in a go-cart-like environment, unwilling to take my hands off the steering wheel or eyes off the road, even momentarily, for fear of loss of control due to a wind shadow, a passing truck or a groove in the road surface. Also just lost my HOV privileges because the 12 year old technology doesn't meet ULEV-2. All 3 on-board computers and the IMA system are now out of warranty which will cost me close to $7K, out of pocket, to replace.

Yes, I know a lot of people on FR are skeptical, but with engines now starting to get direct fuel injection and soon a really radical design called homogeneous combustion compression-ignition (HCCI), a small car could get over 50 mpg on the EPA 2008 test, possibly as early as 2015.

Count me in as a skeptic. The new mileage standards are insanity. The Federal Government should not be in the business of setting mpg standards. The free market will do just fine without them. Yes, there new engine technologies for ICE engines. But we are running up against something called the law of diminishing returns. That states that ever greater inputs ($$$) yield lesser outputs (mpg). This is driving up the cost of cars greatly and making them less affordable. I was considering a Ford Fusion Hybrid until I looked at how much more expensive it was than a standard Fusion. To meet CAFE standards, auto makers have made the cars much smaller (terrible for families) and thus less safe even with airbags. Soon there will be no more V8 or even V6 Engines. People like Obama and his elk want everyone in an Econo-Box with 90hp. This is not what Americans want or desire. We don't want to drive crap.

“soon a really radical design called homogeneous combustion compression-ignition ... 50 mpg”

I looked that up. The HCCI concept achieves its efficiency exactly as the diesel does: by a higher compression ratio.

So why should we use HCCI rather than just use diesels? HCCI engines, like diesels, need to be built stronger and heavier than the spark-ignition engines.