Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd
It's called Spark Controlled Compression Ignition, and Mazda made it work.
Despite rumors to the contrary, the internal combustion engine is far from dead. Recently we've seen several technological advances that will significantly boost the efficiency of gasoline-powered engines. One of these, first reported back in August 2017, is Mazda's breakthrough with compression ignition. On Tuesday, Mazda invited us to its R&D facility in California to learn more about this clever new Skyactiv-X engine, but more importantly we actually got to drive it on the road.
The idea behind Skyactiv-X is to be able to run the engine with as lean a fuel-air mixture (known as λ) as possible. Because very lean combustion is cooler than a stoichiometric reaction (where λ=1 and there is exactly enough air to completely burn each molecule of fuel but no more), less energy is wasted as heat. What's more, the exhaust gases contain fewer nasty nitrogen oxides, and the unused air gets put to work. It absorbs the combustion heat and then expands and pushes down on the piston. The result is a cleaner, more efficient, and more powerful engine. And Skyactiv-X uses a very lean mix: a λ up to 2.5.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by bob_super on Wednesday January 31 2018, @01:31AM (2 children)
No, seriously, RTFA. It's really good tech.
... but I'm not buying the first gen, because some of those pieces need engineers well isolated from nickel-and-dime managers, if it's not to turn into a giant maintenance nightmare.
(Score: 4, Funny) by requerdanos on Wednesday January 31 2018, @02:02AM (1 child)
It's made of aluminum and has 16:1 compression. How bad could it be? :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 31 2018, @09:08AM
That's what i'm worried. This thing needs more precise conditions for cumbustion. How much can the engine wear for it to still work? Like these current tiny Ecoboosts and such. They wear out quickly.