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| Ford Ecoboost engine: lower fuel consumption and less CO2 emission |
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Billion of dollars are invested into cutting-edging green technologies every year as car markers are eager to pave their way for future success. A disappointing fact, at least for the current China market, is that even with government subsidies a majority of today's consumers are still going for the wait-to-see strategy. No matter how great an electric car is, the price tag on it may hold potential buyers back. In fact, the thirst for low cost green technology is always there and has already become a major driver behind the search for more affordable green solutions.
Ford EcoBoost-affordable technology for everyone
Ford Motor unveiled its EcoBoost technology in early 2008, a new gas-turbo direct-injection engines technology that claims to deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy and 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions to customers. The new technology is already used on four of the company's models which are Ford Taurus SHO, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT. The target for the US auto maker is to make EcoBoost available on 90% of its vehicles by 2013.
From technical point of view, the great efficiency achieved by Ford EcoBoost lies in the combination of direct injection and turbocharging. With direct injection, highly pressurized fuel is injected into each cylinder of an engine in small, precise amounts, according to Ford. Comparing to conventional port injection, direct injection produces a cooler, denser charge, and delivers higher fuel economy and enhanced performance. Coupled with turbocharging which utilizes once wasted energy from engine exhaust to power turbine wheel, a 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine can manage to produce more torque like a 6-cylinder engine while a 6-cylinder engine can produce like an 8-cylinder engines.
According to Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development, EcoBoost can be applied across a wide variety of engine types in a range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks with affordable price. Ford's EcoBoost engine has attracted great attention in China when the technology was showcased during the 2010 Beijing International Auto Exhibition in April. The company later disclosed that the EcoBoost technology will be introduced in China this year on premium Mondeo CHIA-X model.
GeTec Technology
As a major effort made by Geely to enhance its competitiveness, the company unveiled its self-developed engine family for models sold worldwide. The technology behind its engines are named as GeTec, short for Geely Green Efficient Engine Technology, that showcase Geely's capability to fulfill diversified market demand with power solutions ranging from 1L to 2.4L. The JLβ-4G13T is Geely's first turbo charged gasoline engine featuring better torque, high efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. The GeTec line was further expanded this year with three newly-launched models, α-4G10T, β-4G13TD and β-4G15, in its engine line-up at the 2010 Beijing International Auto Show. In terms of fuel efficiency and driving performance, the GETEC JLγ-4G18, a standard 1.8L four- cylinder engine on Geely's Emgrand model, can deliver 172Nm at 4100rmp and 5% saving on fuel consumption.
Another point worth mentioning is the CRDI diesel engine developed by the company adopts the leading Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) system for emission control. JLω-4D20, which represents the company's four-cylinder diesel engine family, is the first of the kind from Geely that meets the strict EU V emission standards.
BlueMotion-the Volkswagen Efficiency
VW 1.4L TDS engine displayed at the 2010 Beijing International Auto Show |
Speaking of engines born with outstanding technologies, the Volkswagen award winning 1.4L TSI Twincharger would be the one that stands out among an array of competitors. The 1.4L TSL engine features a small body which can offer the benefits of less power loss and reduced friction rate. With its unique technical design, it also delivers a maximum torque at low revs such as 1500 or 1750 rpm. However, driven by the Germany spirit for never-ending technical innovation, VW launched its new BlueMotion technology as part of its mechanical refinement drive.
"BlueMotion isn't just a single technology. It's a whole range of innovations and refinements that help you save fuel and money." This is how Volkswagon describes its new technology on its official site. As a major response to low carbon drive, the motive behind this new concept is not hard to understand if we make a comparison between the German and Japanese approaches to green technology. For the German car makers, innovations towards fewer emission and less fuel consumption based on the existing platform is of more value, or put it another way, more practical for cash-strapped customers than a complete switch to expensive hybrids or electric engines, an idea that Toyota is pitching for.
Three BlueMotion versions from VW, Polo, Golf and Passat, earned the 2010 Green Car of the Year award at the 2010 New York International Auto Show, a clear indication of its popularity in the western markert. What draws the attention of potential buyers is the superb performance and amazingly low fuel consumption achieved through a combination of efficiency technology such as TSI engine, automatic start/stop, low rolling resistance tires, aerodynamic design. Taking the VW Golf for instance, the BlueMotion technology on the engine can significantly lower the fuel consumption to 4L/100km, which is on par with that of a hybrid car.
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