Southwest Research Institute has launched the latest phase of the transportation industry’s longest running commercial vehicle research consortium. (Earlier post.) Building on more than 33 years of research and development, the Clean Highly Efficient Decarbonized Engines 9 (CHEDE-9) consortium has expanded its scope from diesel-engine-focused research to a range of internal combustion engines and hybrid solutions.

Formerly known as the Clean High-Efficiency Diesel Engine consortium, CHEDE-9 focuses on research of low- and net-zero carbon dioxide transportation technologies for light-duty passenger vehicles, heavy-duty commercial vehicles and large power systems. CHEDE-9’s approach to exploring decarbonization technologies combines past and future research efforts and includes examination of low-carbon fuels, advanced engine and powertrain systems, and life-cycle analyses.

CHEDE-9 will have two main areas of concentration. The first research pathway focuses on decarbonized engines and fuels, which includes the study of sustainable low- or zero-carbon fuel development while maintaining high engine efficiency. The second focuses on the development of aftertreatment solutions that reduce NO_x emissions. CHEDE-9’s success requires innovation in both research pathways.

—Chris Bitsis, assistant director of research and innovation in SwRI’s Powertrain Engineering Division

CHEDE-9 leverages the most recent research from CHEDE-8 and other SwRI-led research programs, including the High-Efficiency, Dilute Gasoline Engine (HEDGE-V) and Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) programs.

CHEDE-9 members include major engine and vehicle manufacturers as well as fuels and lubricants companies and other suppliers. Consortium membership allows companies to share costs and access more research than would be feasible if funded individually.

CHEDE-9 includes three membership levels: Founder ($100,000 USD/year), Consultant ($50,000 USD/year) and Informed ($20,000 USD/year). Founder-level members receive access to all collected data, voting rights to decide the program’s future direction and royalty-free access to the intellectual property developed during the consortium.

SwRI is home to several automotive consortia, such as the Advanced Fluids for Electrified Vehicles (AFEV) consortium, which seeks to advance industry understanding of electric and hybrid vehicle fluids, and the Electrified Vehicle and Energy Storage Evaluation (EVESE) program, which provides test data for member-selected sets of battery cells, among others.