Why the internal combustion engine is far from the end of the road

The ban applies to combustion engines as the sole source of power and does not include hybrids or plug-in hybrids which is what the industry expects all new vehicles to be based on well before 2040. 

ICE research, instead of declining in the wake of the ban is, in fact, intensifying, as evidenced at the University of Brighton where the quest for more efficient, zero-emission hydrocarbon fuel engines is gathering pace.

Professor Morgan Heikal leads the University’s Advanced Engineering Centre (AEC) which acts as a as a ‘spoke’ for ICE thermal efficiency as part of the Advanced Propulsion Centre formed from a commitment between the Government and automotive industry to position the UK as a global centre of excellence for low carbon powertrain development and production.

Professor Heikal, who was this week named as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “The road map for the automotive sector is clearly drawn by the UK Automotive Council. We, as a spoke of the Advanced Propulsion Centre, will be following this map and will use our research expertise to fulfil the aims of the council and help industry develop the right technologies required.

Professor Morgan Heikal

“We are investing heavily in our state-of-the-art engine test facilities in our new purpose built Advanced Engineering Building and increasing our digital modelling capacity to develop modelling tools that will not only speed the research and development of these new technologies but will allow us to explore new dimensions that are too difficult or too expensive to achieve experimentally.

“We will not be looking at new combustion systems in isolation but will be considering co-optimisation of engines and fuels in order to help the development and introduction of new 'designer' environmentally-friendly fuels."

The £14m Advanced Engineering Building will house cutting-edge research led by Professor Heikal into complex engine combustion processes and laser-based measurement techniques, fundamental modelling and computational simulation.

The AEC has developed a highly successful partnership with Ricardo UK ltd, the Shoreham-based global engineering, strategic and environmental consultancy and specialist manufacturer. In 2006, they jointly opened the Sir Harry Ricardo Laboratories and created one of the most advanced engineering research environments in Europe.

The AEC and Ricardo pool expertise and share key skills to develop understanding about advanced combustion processes in order to optimise engine performance and reduce polluting emissions. Several breakthroughs in engineering and have been realised and more are expected.

The laboratories’ reputation has been enhanced by collaborations with over 40 academic institutions and high-profile industrial clients from around the globe. They are the first port of call for groups wishing to address the environmental targets set by UK and European governments, and they deliver knowledge-based innovation to the automobile industry – the high-ranking research has also been rewarded with motorsport engineering programmes.