E10 to E100 Capable Engine Matches Diesel Efficiency at Lower Cost
by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries) Recent news that a 5-member team plans commercialization of $1/gal (commodity cost) ethanol from algae, coincides with information that Ricardo engineers have developed a spark ignited engine able to sense and adjust automatically to any mixture of gasoline and ethanol fuel with thermal efficiency equal to diesel engines but at lower cost and half the displacement yet with comparable performance.
Although the low cost of new ethanol supplies by the unique Algenol process is a plus for the Ricardo engine, the engine’s diesel equal fuel efficiency on gasoline has equal if not greater importance and is another reason why the age of Otto cycle( i.e., spark ignited) liquid fueled engines will continue long into the future.
Information on the new engine termed EBDI (Ethanol Boosted Direct Injected) was provided to AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES by Ricardo executive engineer, Rod Beazley and by engineer, Luke Cruff. READ MORE