Hyundai Motor Group has agreed to collaborate with Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to research and develop an advanced fuel for an ultra lean-burn, spark-ignition engine with the goal of reducing a vehicle’s overall carbon dioxide emissions.
During its transition to battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel cell electric vehicles, Hyundai Motor Group is conducting various R&D activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles (FCEV).
e-fuels, unlike traditional fuels, are made from green hydrogen (produced by water electrolysis with renewable electricity) and carbon dioxide, resulting in an 80 percent reduction in lifecycle emissions. The ultra-lean burn engine is an environmentally friendly technology that improves thermal efficiency and fuel economy over conventional engines, resulting in even lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Hyundai Motor Group, Aramco, and KAUST will collaborate over the next two years to research and potentially develop an advanced fuel formulation for use with a novel combustion system. Hyundai Motor Group, with its automotive and technology leadership, will provide the research team with a cutting-edge, ultra-lean-burn gasoline engine.
Aramco intends to use its advanced fuels technology to create an efficient fuel formulation. By providing a state-of-the-art combustion research center, KAUST will oversee the modeling and verification of technologies, including engine testing. The collaboration is expected to generate synergies by combining the expertise of each participant.
The goal of the joint study is to see how much greenhouse gas emissions are reduced when e-fuel is used instead of conventional fuel in hybrid electric vehicles. In addition, through simulation and engine testing, the joint R&D aims to numerically confirm the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hyundai Motor Group expects to achieve carbon neutrality in a cost-effective manner by using new engine technology to significantly reduce carbon emissions generated by conventional petroleum fuels.
Researchers from KAUST’s Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC) will conduct the tests.
