Page 42 - Technology Roadmap Transportation

TECHNOLOGY VISION 2035

1.4.1 EVOLUTION OF TRANSPORT (ii) Automotive Fuels: Starting from 1960’s,
TECHNOLOGIES a large number of changes have been
Automotive technology refers to the made to the automotive fuel specifications.
technologies incorporated in vehicles for their Leaded gasoline was used to control engine
design and development. These technologies knocking however it was discontinued after
are essential for continuous development and the recognition of harmful effects of lead
changes in the existing vehicles. With rapidly in the ambient air. High sulphur content of
increasing demand as well as expectations of the fuel was another major issue, which was
consumers towards higher safety standards, responsible for harmful engine-out emissions.
low-carbon future embodied more aggressively The sulphur levels were reduced gradually and
in government’s fuel economy standards and the petroleum companies have now started
stringent emissions norms. This has accelerated producing ultra-low sulphur fuels to control
the pace of vehicle technology changes. When particulate emissions from vehicles.
considering changes in automotive technology Due to rapidly depleting petroleum reserves
that support the “greening” of transportation globally, it is essential to develop and promote
sector, most people think about advanced alternate fuels and technologies, which are
powertrains- including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, environmentally benign and sustainable.
battery electrics, advanced IC engines and Research is being undertaken to develop
advanced diesels. This is followed by alternative several alternate fuels such as biodiesel, and
fuels, including renewables such as biofuels, solar alcohols etc. Engine technologies are also
energy and hydrogen. Sector-wise modifications being developed for using gaseous alternate
in automotive technology from evolution to fuels such as CNG, LPG for last six decades
current status are summarized in the following and these technologies have now matured
sections. enough to be commercialised in India. R&D for
using hydrogen as an automotive fuel is being
(i) Automotive Engines: Most important changes undertaken expeditiously in India and several
which have taken place in the automotive organizations are working on various aspects
sector in India pertain to development of of commercialisation of hydrogen/ its utilisation
advanced engine technology. In gasoline cars, technologies and infrastructure development.
carburetor engines have been replaced by the
Multi Point Port Fuel Injection (MPFI) engines. (iii) Emission Standards and Control Strategies:
This technology is capable of complying with An effective control on the emission of
the stringent automotive emission norms of harmful pollutants like Oxides of Nitrogen
India and manages to extract maximum benefit (NOx), particulate matter (PM)/ soot, Carbon
of fuel economy. Similarly, diesel vehicles have Monoxide (CO) or volatile hydrocarbons is
undergone dramatic changes in the last decade essential in order to conserve the environment
with the advent of Common Rail Direct and preserve human health. Large number
Injection (CRDI) technology. CRDI technology of exhaust gas after treatment devices such
offers unprecedented flexibility, which was never as Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), NOx
available to conventional diesel engines, and Storage Catalyst (NSC), Three Way Catalyst
delivered 25% higher power output compared (TWC), Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) etc.
to baseline conventional direct injection diesel along with advanced in-cylinder combustion
engines, a soundless engine with enviable control techniques such as HCCI, PCCI, LTC
pickup and acceleration, and a superb fuel are being developed and deployed, as per the
economy for a mid-sized diesel car. Currently, requirements of emission norms.
extensive research is being undertaken for the
development of advanced combustion concepts (iv) Transmission and Suspension Systems:
such as Homogeneous Charge Compression Transmission system of vehicles has improved
Ignition (HCCI), Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) significantly since the advent of Indian
etc., which are expected to further improve automotive industry. Initially, vehicles were
the combustion efficiency and performance equipped with manual transmission system
characteristics of current generation automotive with a small range of variations. Today, the
engines. transmission systems have been completely
modified and automated transmission systems

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