The engine is the power source of a car. Most car engines are thermal power devices, abbreviated as thermal engines. A thermal engine converts the thermal energy generated by fuel combustion into mechanical energy through changes in the state of the working fluid.
In 1876, German Nicolaus A. Otto invented a reciprocating piston four stroke gasoline engine based on atmospheric pressure engines. Due to the use of four strokes of intake, compression, power generation, and exhaust, the thermal efficiency of the engine has increased from 11% of atmospheric pressure engines to 14%, while the engine's mass has decreased by 70%.
In 1892, German engineer Rudolf Diesel invented the compression ignition engine (i.e. diesel engine), achieving the second major breakthrough in the history of internal combustion engines. Due to the use of high compression and expansion ratios, the thermal efficiency was doubled compared to other engines at that time.
In 1926, Swiss A. Buchi proposed the theory of exhaust gas turbocharging, which uses the energy of exhaust gas emitted by the engine to drive the compressor and pressurize the engine. After the 1950s, exhaust gas turbocharging technology gradually began to be applied in automotive internal combustion engines, greatly improving engine performance and becoming the third major breakthrough in the history of internal combustion engine development. [1]
In 1956, the German Wankel invented the rotary engine, which greatly increased the engine speed. In 1964, the German NSU company first installed a rotary engine on a sedan.
In 1967, Bosch, a German company, first introduced the Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system controlled by an electronic computer, marking the beginning of the application of electronic control technology in automotive engines. After 30 years of development, the Engine Management System (EMS) with electronic computers as the core has gradually become a standard configuration on automobiles (especially sedan engines). Due to the application of electronic control technology, the emissions of pollutants, noise, and fuel consumption of engines have been significantly reduced, improving power performance and becoming the fourth major breakthrough in the history of internal combustion engine development. [2]
In 1967, the United States conducted a public performance of hydrogen powered cars, which could run 121 kilometers per hour with 10 minutes of hydrogen charging at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The car has 19 seats and is manufactured by Billins in the United States. In 1971, the first bus equipped with a Stirling engine began operating. In 1972, Honda Motor Corporation of Japan sold a Civic sedan equipped with a Composite Vertex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) engine in the market, marking the first shot of a lean gas combustion engine.
In 1977, the first International Conference on Electric Vehicles was held in Chicago, USA. During the conference, over 100 electric vehicles of various types were exhibited. In 1978, Japan successfully researched hybrid electric vehicles. In August 1979, Brazil produced cars powered by alcohol. Brazil is currently the country that uses the most alcohol powered cars in the world. Fatigue testing methods for automotive engine crankshafts
In 1980, Japan successfully developed a liquid hydrogen vehicle. A specially designed storage tank is installed at the rear to maintain the low temperature and certain pressure of liquid hydrogen. The car used 85 liters of liquid hydrogen and traveled 400 kilometers at a speed of 135 kilometers per hour.
In 1980, the United States successfully developed a zinc chloride battery electric vehicle.
In 1980, Spain successfully developed a solar powered car.
In 1980, an engineer from Izejo, northwest of Hamburg, West Germany, invented a car powered by calcium carbide gas (acetylene gas). First, turn the carbide into gas, and then use this gas combustion to drive the jet engine to drive the car. Its speed and safety are no less than gasoline cars. A 20 kilogram carbide can make the car travel at least 300 kilometers.
In 1980, John Cooper and Elvin Beren from the University of California began researching aluminum burning electric vehicles.
In 1983, the world's first car equipped with a diesel ceramic engine was successfully tested in operation. The installed engine is developed by Kyoto Ceramic Company in Japan, and its main components are made of ceramics, eliminating the need for a cooling system. It is lightweight and has significant energy-saving effects. Under the same conditions, it can travel 30% more distance than conventional engines. Automotive engines
In 1984, the former Soviet Union developed a dual fuel vehicle. When starting a car, gasoline is used first, followed by dedicated natural gas.
In 1984, Mobil's Amokobe Chemical Company developed a synthetic material called Duron plastic, which the company successfully used to manufacture the world's first all plastic car engine, weighing only 84 kilograms. The Lola T-616GT car in the United States uses this type of all plastic engine.
In 1984, Australian engineer Sharish successfully developed an OCP engine.
In 1985, Pilandin, Australia developed a safe, reliable, flexible to start, high-speed, and non smoking steam engine vehicle.
In 1986, Sanyo Electric Company in Japan successfully developed the first solar cell car.
In 1994, David Burn from the UK invented another type of wind vehicle and it has been put into mass production