With all the attention that hybrids and EVs (electric vehicles) are receiving these days it’s encouraging to know that the Dept. of Energy, multiple national laboratories and public and private universities, and companies such as Ford Motor Co., are collaborating on extensive research and development for internal combustion engines.

It's all going on under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Combustion Engine Rersearch and Development subprogram, (part of the Vehicle Technologies Program).

The purpose is clear. They're developing more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly highway transportation technologies that will meet or exceed performance expectations, enable the United States to use significantly less petroleum, and reduce greenhouse gas and other regulated emissions.

Moreover, the Advanced Combustion Engine R and D program removes critical technical barriers to commercialization of advanced internal combustion engines (ICEs) for passenger and commercial vehicles that meet future Federal emissions regulations.

Researchers say that dramatically improving the efficiency of ICEs in conventional as well as hybrid electric vehicles is one of the most promising and cost-effective approaches to increasing vehicle fuel economy over the next 30 years.

Improvements in engine efficiency alone have the potential to increase passenger vehicle fuel economy by 25 to 40 percent, and commercial vehicle fuel economy by 30 percent with a similar reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, more specifically, carbon dioxide emissions. And as you would expect, these improvements are expected to be even greater when coupled with advanced hybrid electric powertrains.

Here’s what the Advanced Combustion Engine R and D subprogram is shooting for:

Passenger Vehicles: Increase the efficiency of ICEs resulting in vehicle fuel economy improvements of 25 percent for gasoline vehicles and 40 percent for diesel vehicles by 2015 compared to current gasoline vehicles.

Commercial Vehicles: Increase the efficiency of ICEs from 42 percent (2010 baseline) to 50 percent (20 percent improvement) by 2015, and further improve engine efficiency to 55 percent by 2018 with demonstrations on commercial vehicle platforms.

Solid State Energy Conversion: Increase the fuel economy of passenger vehicles by at least 5 percent with thermoelectric generators that convert waste heat to electricity by 2015.

The Advanced Combustion Engine research directors say that these technology advances are expected to reduce the size and complexity of emission control hardware and minimize potential fuel efficiency penalties. A fuel-neutral approach is also being taken, with research addressing gasoline- and diesel-based advanced engines, including renewable fuels. Hydrogen engine R and D is underway as well.

In their most recent report, the program directors noted that significant advances in combustion, emission controls, fuel injection, turbo-machinery, and other advanced engine technologies continue to increase the thermal efficiency of ICEs with simultaneous reductions in emissions. With these advances, gasoline and diesel engines continue to be the attractive engine options for conventional and hybrid-electric vehicles. These engines offer outstanding drivability, fuel economy, and reliability with low combustion noise and extremely clean exhaust.

Additionally, substantial progress in gasoline engine efficiency in recent years has been the result of advances in engine technologies including direct fuel injection, flexible valve systems, improved combustion chamber design, and reduced mechanical friction.

Here’s the full report:

U.S. update on Internal Combustion Engines R and D