Ignition Australia Ignition June 2017 AUS JOOMAG | Page 15

major car manufacturer engineers have also been working
tirelessly on extracting the most from traditional internal
combustion engines.
Their work centres on reducing carbon-dioxide emissions,
while increasing fuel economy and engine performance
levels without major increases in cost. There is no doubt
that they have been remarkably successful. In fact their
work has been that extraordinary on petrol engines,
that diesel fuel engines have had to undergo major re-
developments in order to remain viable.
It also needs to be noted that in order for electric
or alternate future energy powered vehicles to run
efficiently, new and more complex powertrains (how
the power gets from the engine to the wheels on
the road) need to be developed. This also comes at
major cost compared to the traditional front, rear
or four wheel drive powertrain assemblies of our
current cars.
So while our traditional internal combustion
engines look to be in our cars for at least the next
20 years, the pace of change in relation to gaining
further
emissions
reductions,
fuel
economy
targets and performance levels will become far
more challenging across the next decade.
The lack of suitable and efficient re-charging
station infrastructure for fully electric cars along
with hydrogen powered cars also represents
another major hurdle to be overcome before
such vehicles can be broadly accepted. This is
particularly true in a country the size of Australia,
with such vast distances between cities and regional
areas.
According to another one of the “big three” car makers,
General Motors, their primary strategy is to continue
to refine petrol and diesel powered engines, while also
planning for alternate energy powered vehicles. It is
more than safe to say that the same theory applies for all
major vehicle manufacturers around the world.
Whatever will be the case with all vehicles regardless of
how their power is generated in the next couple of decades,
always remember that these vehicles will always need to be
maintained and components replaced.
- by Paul Marinelli
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