This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Benefits of a Higher Octane Standard Gasoline for the U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Fleet
Technical Paper
2014-01-1961
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
This paper explores the benefits that would be achieved if gasoline marketers produced and offered a higher-octane gasoline to the U.S. consumer market as the standard grade. By raising octane, engine knock constraints are reduced, so that new spark-ignition engines can be designed with higher compression ratios and boost levels. Consequently, engine and vehicle efficiencies are improved thus reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the light-duty vehicle (LDV) fleet over time. The main objective of this paper is to quantify the reduction in fuel consumption and GHG emissions that would result for a given increase in octane number if new vehicles designed to use this higher-octane gasoline are deployed.
GT-Power simulations and a literature review are used to determine the relative brake efficiency gain that is possible as compression ratio is increased. Engine-in-vehicle drive-cycle simulations are then performed in Autonomie to determine an effective, on-the-road vehicle efficiency gain. With the possible efficiency gain determined at an individual vehicle level, a fleet model is then used to calculate the aggregate benefit for the LDV fleet. Our simulations indicate that roughly 69% of all LDVs on the road by 2040 will be of this higher-octane variety that uses premium gasoline (98 or 100 RON). Meanwhile, premium gasoline is projected to account for approximately 80% of the total gasoline demand by 2040. Ultimately by redesigning vehicles to take advantage of premium gasoline, fleet fuel consumption and GHG emissions can be reduced by 4.5-6.0% over the baseline case, where no additional higher-octane vehicles are introduced.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Chow, E., Heywood, J., and Speth, R., "Benefits of a Higher Octane Standard Gasoline for the U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Fleet," SAE Technical Paper 2014-01-1961, 2014, https://doi.org/10.4271/2014-01-1961.Also In
References
- Heywood , J. B. Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals McGraw-Hill 1988
- Mittal , V. and Heywood , J. The Shift in Relevance of Fuel RON and MON to Knock Onset in Modern SI Engines Over the Last 70 Years SAE Int. J. Engines 2 2 1 10 2009 10.4271/2009-01-2622
- Kalghatgi , G. Fuel Anti-Knock Quality - Part I. Engine Studies SAE Technical Paper 2001-01-3584 2001 10.4271/2001-01-3584
- Mittal , V. and Heywood , J. The Relevance of Fuel RON and MON to Knock Onset in Modern SI Engines SAE Technical Paper 2008-01-2414 2008 10.4271/2008-01-2414
- Chevron Motor Gasolines Technical Review Chevron Corporation June 2009
- Russ , S. A Review of the Effect of Engine Operating Conditions on Borderline Knock SAE Technical Paper 960497 1996 10.4271/960497
- Caris , D. and Nelson , E. A New Look at High Compression Engines SAE Technical Paper 590015 1959 10.4271/590015
- Thring , R. and Overington , M. Gasoline Engine Combustion - The High Ratso Compact Chamber SAE Technical Paper 820166 1982 10.4271/820166
- Duleep , K. Review to Determine the Benefits of Increasing Octane Number on Gasoline Engine Efficiency: Analysis and Recommendations - Tasks 2-5 CRC Project No. CM-137-11-1b Coordinating Research Council, Inc. September 2012
- Gerty , M. and Heywood , J. An Investigation of Gasoline Engine Knock Limited Performance and the Effects of Hydrogen Enhancement SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-0228 2006 10.4271/2006-01-0228
- Okamoto , K. , Ichikawa , T. , Saitoh , K. , Oyama , K. et al. Study of Antiknock Performance Under Various Octane Numbers and Compression Ratios in a DISI Engine SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-1804 2003 10.4271/2003-01-1804
- Kalghatgi , G. , Nakata , K. , and Mogi , K. Octane Appetite Studies in Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) Engines SAE Technical Paper 2005-01-0244 2005 10.4271/2005-01-0244
- Heywood , J. and Welling , O. Trends in Performance Characteristics of Modern Automobile SI and Diesel Engines SAE Int. J. Engines 2 1 1650 1662 2009 10.4271/2009-01-1892
- Nakata , K. , Uchida , D. , Ota , A. , Utsumi , S. et al. The Impact of RON on SI Engine Thermal Efficiency SAE Technical Paper 2007-01-2007 2007 10.4271/2007-01-2007
- Muñoz , R. , Han , Z. , VanDerWege , B. , and Yi , J. Effect of Compression Ratio on Stratified-Charge Direct-Injection Gasoline Combustion SAE Technical Paper 2005-01-0100 2005 10.4271/2005-01-0100
- Ayala , F. , Gerty , M. , and Heywood , J. Effects of Combustion Phasing, Relative Air-fuel Ratio, Compression Ratio, and Load on SI Engine Efficiency SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-0229 2006 10.4271/2006-01-0229
- Hellman , K. and Murrell , J. Development of Adjustment Factors for the EPA City and Highway MPG Values SAE Technical Paper 840496 1984 10.4271/840496
- EPA Fuel Economy Labeling of Motor Vehicle Revisions to Improve Calculation of Fuel Economy Estimates Final Technical Support Document Environmental Protection Agency 2006
- DOT National Transportation Statistics U.S. Department of Transportation 2013
- R. L. Polk & Co. State of the U.S. Light Vehicle Market - December 2009 Polk View 2009
- Davis , S. , Diegel , S. , and Boundy , R. Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 31 ORNL-6987 Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tennessee 2012
- Census U.S. Methodology and Assumptions for the 2012 National Projections United States Census Bureau 2012
- NHTSA and EPA 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards Federal Register 77 199 15 October 2012
- EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2010-With Projections to 2035 DOE/EIA-0383 U.S. Energy Information Administration 2010
- NHTSA and EPA Final Rulemaking for 2017-2025 Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards EPA-420-R-12-901 2012
- Bastani , P. , Heywood , J. B. , and Hope C. The effect of uncertainty on the U.S. transport-related GHG emissions and fuel consumption out to 2050 Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 46 517 548 2012 10.1016/j.tra.2011.11.011
- LFEE New Vehicle Technologies: How Soon Can They Make a Difference? MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment March 2005
- Kromer M. , and Heywood , J. B. Electric Powertrains: Opportunities and Challenges in the U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Fleet LFEE 2007-03 RP May 2007
- Bandel , W. , Fraidl , G. , Kapus , P. , Sikinger , H. et al. The Turbocharged GDI Engine: Boosted Synergies for High Fuel Economy Plus Ultra-low Emission SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-1266 2006 10.4271/2006-01-1266
- Bandivadekar , A. Evaluating the Impact of Advanced Vehicle and Fuel Technologies in U.S. Light-Duty Vehicle Fleet Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts 2008
- Cheah , L. Cars on a Diet: The Material and Energy Impacts of Passenger Vehicle Weight Reduction in the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts 2010
- Greene , D. L. and Rathi , A. Alternative Motor Fuel Use Model: Model Theory and Design and User's Guide ORNL/TM-11448 1990
- NRC Effectiveness and impact of corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards Washington, D. C. National Research Council, National Academy Press 2002
- Kasseris , E. and Heywood , J. Comparative Analysis of Automotive Powertrain Choices for the Next 25 Years SAE Technical Paper 2007-01-1605 2007 10.4271/2007-01-1605
- Bastani , P. , Heywood , J. B. , and Hope C. Potential for Meeting Light-duty Vehicle Fuel Economy Targets, 2016-2025 MIT Energy Initiative Report January 2012
- Edwards , M. , Hill , K. , and Szakaly , S. How Automakers Plan Their Products: A Primer for Policymakers on Automotive Industry Business Planning Center for Automotive Research (CAR) 2007
- Speth , R. , Chow , E. , Malina , R. , Barrett , S. et al. Economic and Environmental Benefits of Higher-Octane Gasoline Environmental Science & Technology December 2013