Low-Carbon Biofuel Combustion Technologies for Sustainable Hybrid Electric Passenger Vehicle Applications
Keywords:
Low-temperature combustion, biofuels, RCCI, hybrid electric vehicle, energy management, life-cycle emissionsAbstract
Low-temperature combustion (LTC) is a process that can deliver the benefits of high thermal efficiency, low nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter, as well as the high energy density and quick refueling times of the liquid-fuel process. It has the added advantage of being able to be integrated with hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains, where electrification allows operation only in the areas of stable and efficient LTC. This paper critically reviews homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI), premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI), reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI), and dual-mode strategies for passenger vehicles that use biofuel for hybrid operation. Key synthesis focus areas are fuel reactivity, preparation of the charge in the cylinder, combustion phasing, extension of the operating range, transient control, aftertreatment compatibility, hybrid topology, supervisory energy management, and well-to-wheel carbon performance. RCCI combustion regimes have been shown, in general, to allow greater combustion-phasing control and operation at higher load levels compared with highly premixed HCCI, and bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and higher alcohols can replace fossil carbon. Remaining challenges involve low-load incomplete combustion, pressure-rise limits at high load, cold-start and catalyst-temperature management, fuel-property variability, and life-cycle carbon uncertainty. The evidence thus supports fuel-engine-electric-drive design and supervisory control to avoid combustion instability and pollutant emissions, maintain a safe catalyst temperature and battery state of charge, and improve life-cycle carbon performance.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Karunakaran Patchamuthu, Dr. P. Marish Kumar (Author)
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