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"Automotive Engine Technology"

6:00-7:00pm, Wednesday, March 12
Thirsty Ear Pub, Basement of Ashdown House
Leader: RJ Scaringe and Craig Wildman

Key Questions

1. Why are diesel engines more efficient than gasoline?
2. Are diesels dirtier than gasoline engines and why?
3. What technologies are being developed to improve gasoline/diesel engines?
4. What is Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) and why is it attractive?

Preparatory Readings

• How spark ignition engines work - producing more power, HowStuffWorks.com
• On diesel engines
  • How diesel engines work, HowStuffWorks.com
  • Diesel aftertreatment, presentation slides from Ricardo Inc.
• On HCCI
  • A More Efficient Engine, Technology Review, Aug 3, 2007
  • GM's HCCI Engine Offers 15 MPG Increase, Edmunds.com, Aug 27, 2007
  • HCCI Technology: A report to the U.S. Congress (see executive summary), EERE, U.S. DOE, Aug 2001
• BP's bet on Butanol, Technology Review, Mar 27, 2007

Handout

• Automotive Engine Technology, by RJ Scaringe