tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post2177851771244754673..comments2024-01-25T17:14:18.395+00:00Comments on Auto Industry Newsletter: Ricardo to support US natural gas engine workWhaddon Quarterlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965874319054447170noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391255626232385293.post-65228018660173548712016-01-22T17:22:32.773+00:002016-01-22T17:22:32.773+00:00As is often the case in announcements from North A...As is often the case in announcements from North American based organisations, some extravagant - arguably even wild - claims made in this latest release from Ricardo. Incidentally, it is surprising that no mention is made of Ricardo's earlier tie-up with California-based Clean Air Power on natural gas engine development.<br /> It is asserted that future NG engines from the Ricardo-GTI partnership will 'consume less fuel than current diesels, and provide truck operators with higher engine performance with the same reliability'.<br /> Many would challenge those claims (from what is spark-ignited NG engine technology). The energy density of NG is way below diesel's, which scotches the first assertion. <br /> 'Higher engine performance' is conveniently vague, but for engines of similar swept volume, a spark-ignited NG unit, because of its much lower compression ratio, loses out critically on torque vis-à-vis a diesel. <br /> And for a diesel's reliability to be matched, it has been shown that an NG engine needs a lot more regular maintenance attention. Alan Buntingnoreply@blogger.com