GM Demonstrates Gasoline HCCI On the Road

GM has demonstrated homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) for the first time in two driveable concept vehicles, a 2007 Saturn Aura and Opel Vectra. The HCCI gasoline engines operate in mixed mode, using HCCI at lower loads, and reverting to spark-ignition at higher loads and speeds.

“”The energy needs will be met and hopefully the US shortfall will be reversed through a variety of methods. Among the most important are the construction of nuclear facilities using the latest technology, probably standardized across the countries following in the wise footsteps of France. The French do this one right, and we should follow their lead.””

The problem with nuclear energy is that it cn only provide electrical power. It is incapable of replacing oil which is used for transportation, mining equipment and heating. Many countries around the world are currently burning oil to create electric, but in the USA less than 3% of our electric comes from oil. So, we need to come up with an energy source that run our mining equipment, heat our homes and power our transportation sector. and we need it quickly because our population grows at 1% per year and our economy grows at ~3% per year while our oil production is declining at ~5% per year.

In regards to the French...their transportation, mining and heating sectors are just as dependant on imported oil as the United States is. They may export electric piower to the rest of Europe but they are very much at risk of declining oil production in the North Sea and from the Middle East.

I haven't researched the details, but from what I see on this thread it's far from clear that this is a superior approach. A "homogeneous" charge diesel engine is discussed in my 50-yo I.C. Engines textbook. It was called the "dual fuel diesel," and it operated on a homogeneous, slightly lean, mixture of natural gas and air. The mixture was lean enough that it needed something to trigger its combustion - a pilot charge of diesel fuel.

The description stated that it ran smoother than a diesel, since the flame propagated through the combustion chamber rather than exploding due to the cascading effect which occurs in a regular diesel fuel after it is injected. More efficient that a standard diesel, as well - "may be the most efficient prime mover in existence" was the characterization - but it had one supreme drawback, controllability.

Since there was no possibility of throttling it, the only way to control its output was to control the RPM by controlling the torque load. It was used in Alaska at a site where natural gas was naturally available and other fuel was expensive. It was used for electric power generation . . .

But in a world where hybrid cars are now in serial production, it's not obvious that load control would still be a show-stopper issue - at worst you could just run the engine when you needed to charge the battery, and shut it down when you didn't. But I presume you would still have an NO_X issue to deal with . . .

The key to the success of the Prius is the fact that it is such an unusual looking car. Everyone can see how enlightened you are for saving the earth.

Jeff,

You mean like the 80mpg Audi A2?

I wonder if Toyota copied this now out of production Euro model.

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