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Mazda Motor Corp said it would become the world's first automaker to commercialize a much more efficient petrol engine using technology that deep-pocketed rivals have been trying to engineer for decades, a twist in an industry increasingly going electric.
The new compression ignition engine is 20 percent to 30 percent more fuel efficient than the Japanese automaker's current engines and uses a technology that has eluded the likes of Daimler AG and General Motors Co.
Mazda, with a research and development (R&D) budget a fraction of those of major peers, said it plans to sell cars with the new engine from 2019.
"It's a major breakthrough," said Ryoji Miyashita, chairman of automotive engineering company AEMSS Inc.
[...] A homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine ignites petrol through compression, eliminating spark plugs. Its fuel economy potentially matches that of a diesel engine without high emissions of nitrogen oxides or sooty particulates.
[...] AEMSS' Miyashita said a key issue would be how smooth and responsive the engine is.
"Is it jerky? If so, that would pose a big question when it comes to commercializing this technology." he said. "Hopefully Mazda has an answer to that question."
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mazda-strategy-idUSKBN1AO0E7
(Score: 3, Interesting) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday August 09 2017, @11:40PM
See my comment below, link: https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=20991&page=1&cid=551347#commentwrap [soylentnews.org]
None of this sounds hard at all. Diesel engines have been using pulsed injection for a while for emission control and quieter/smoother operation. If they kept the spark plugs they would have to ensure they can take that kind of pressure. But if you are running compression ignition and direct injection, why even bother with the plugs? My only thought is there might be starting issues or low speed operation and dealing with the possibly higher compression ratios for the autoignition of petrol. Might need to start and warm up using spark plugs and then switch to diesel cycle. None of this sounds like a major breakthrough. But marketing likes to think so.
There was an old International bulldozer from the 40's, the TD 6, that used a hybrid gas and diesel engine to overcome starting issues. You started it on gas and then pulled a lever to switch to diesel after the engine fired up on gas (youtube has a bunch of TD 6 videos).