Thanks to Jamais at WorldChanging for a pointer to this good NYT overview on the technical solutions for fuel efficiency gasoline engines are now adopting from diesels.

Some of the features that make diesel engines so efficient, including direct fuel injection and air intake systems that use no throttles, are being borrowed by their gasoline counterparts. This is more of a challenge than simply drilling a few holes and bolting on the desired parts.

There even is a brief discussion on HCCI (some earlier posts on HCCI here, here).

“Anyone serious about improving combustion is pursuing HCCI,” said Charles Freese, executive director for diesel engineering at G.M.