Even with its June 1 deadline around the corner, General Motors continues to work on a new gasoline engine that runs like a more-efficient diesel unit. Known as the HCCI, the technology improves fuel-economy by 15 percent and releases fewer emissions - something that could help the future GM comply with the new proposed fuel-economy regulations announced by Obama.
HCCI, which stands for ‘homogenous charge compression ignition,’ works by igniting a mixture of air and fuel inside the engines cylinders and doesn’t use a spark-generated flame. The process uses less fuel and more air to generate power by using advanced technologies, direct injection, electric cam phasing, variable valve lift and cylinder pressure sensing.
While GM has been able to report a top speed of 60 mph with the HCCI in a Saturn Aura test-mule, there are still many challengers including controlling the process at high altitudes and high temperatures.
No word on when GM plans to have the HCCI technology ready but look for it sometime after the Chevrolet Volt
Driving an HCCI vehicle is similar to a car powered by a conventional engine. We took a brief test run in a Saturn Aura mule outfitted with the technology, working with a 2.2-liter Ecotec engine, and it responded agreeably. All told, about two-thirds of our time behind the wheel was spent running in compression ignition.
GM appears to be at the forefront of the technology, but it is far from alone in considering its potential. Daimler developed an engine called “DiesOtto,” and it was shown in the Mercedes F700 concept in 2007. VW has also prototypes of a similar engine.
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