Fuel Saving Engine Technology

Over more than a century, the automobile has presented itself as a fascinating microcosm of technological evolution at work, with humble beginnings that embraced bicycle wheels, a tiller to steer, and a variety of rudimentary powerplants running on fuels ranging from coal gas, hydrogen and oxygen, steam, kerosene, and electricity, to the currently more common gasoline, diesel and, now, E85. These latter fuels power nearly all of the vehicles on our roads today.

Automotive Evolution
It's a tribute to technology and innovation that gasoline and diesel internal combustion engine vehicles continue to serve us well after more than 100 years. In response to changing consumer desires and a maturing auto market—as well as federal and state regulations—motor vehicles have evolved to become faster, more responsive, cleaner running, and safer.


This isn't simply a result of manufacturing and design efficiencies, although these certainly contribute to the exceptional cars, trucks, and SUVs now available to us. Today, advanced technology and sophisticated electronic control have been applied to nearly all facets of an automobile's operation, from speed-sensitive steering and anti-lock braking to multi-point electronic fuel injection, variable valve timing, and sophisticated emissions controls. This trend will surely continue to extend the role of gasoline and diesel engines well into the coming decades, even in the midst of increasingly stringent requirements for lower emissions and consumer demand for higher efficiency.


Evidence of this can be seen in the newer genre of super-clean running vehicles like SULEVs (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) and PZEVs (Partial Zero Emission Vehicles), gasoline internal combustion engine automobiles that operate so efficiently their tailpipe emissions have become increasingly difficult to measure.

Diesel Technology
Diesel-powered vehicles are making a comeback in the U.S. due to advancements in emissions technology and engine operation. The latest diesel vehicles benefit from such innovations as direct injection and engine control technologies that eliminate the knocking sound and reduce visible exhaust soot that have long been associated with diesel passenger-car and light-truck engines. Still, diesel engines do not meet emissions standards in five U.S. states—including California, the country's largest motor vehicle market—which means diesels are not available to 25 percent of the entire U.S. car-buying public. New stricter standards for diesel are scheduled to go into effect in 2007 and nothing on the market now will meet them. The arrival of low-sulfur diesel fuel in a few years will help, but even then additional technical improvements will be needed to allow diesel vehicles to meet these stricter emissions standards. It has yet to be determined what this will do to the cost of diesel vehicles.