Future is looking rosy

From being a concept just a handful of years ago, the electric car is finally coming of age.

With more than six manufacturers offering real-world electric vehicles and the zero tailpipe emissions that go with them, it might seem like only a matter of time before the roads become silent apart from the rumble of tyres.

But the reality is far from it. The overwhelming majority of vehicles on the road have internal combustion engines, and even though EV sales will climb rapidly over the next few years, it will take a decade before even a 30 per cent market share is achieved.

So where does that leave the internal combustion engine? While manufacturers are chipping away at emissions targets with high-economy special models, manufacturers such as Renault are taking a twin-pronged approach to future powertrains.

Recognising the fact internal combustion engines will remain the first choice for millions of car buyers for years to come, developing new engines that maximise the benefits of the type are crucial.

The first end product to come from this plan is its new 1.6 dCi diesel unit.

Replacing the outgoing 1.9-litre dCi, the 1.6-litre has a number of features that mean it delivers better performance with even lower fuel consumption and emissions, according to the French firm.

They claim it is the most powerful 1.6-litre diesel engine in the world, with 128bhp and 243lb.ft of torque – that's just 10lb.ft less pulling power than the Renaultsport Megane.

Yet it achieves 20 per cent better economy and emissions drop by 30g/km.

It achieves this through a number of technologies which Renault say are borrowed from its Formula 1 experience, such as square engine architecture (where the bore and stroke dimensions are almost identical), thermal management to ensure fast warm-up and a clever U-shaped piston ring for maximum efficiency.

What that means for the driver is good news all round. Installed in the Scenic, the nation's favourite people carrier, it makes brisk and effortless progress and certainly feels like an engine of greater capacity.

The high efficiency levels mean good economy and emissions performance is achievable for most, rather than just the exceptionally light-footed.

The bigger news for car buyers in general, however, is that the future is looking ever more rosy.

Almost regardless of what fuel prices decide to do, with the big manufacturers working hard towards big efficiency gains from internal combustion engines, the need to plug in your car will remain a matter of choice.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/1555ebb5/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0Cnews0CFuture0Elooking0Erosy0Carticle0E360A46260Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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