The internal combustion engine will be with us for many years to come, despite all efforts towards e-mobility. For this reason, it is essential that its CO2 and pollutant emissions be maximally reduced.
Development teams, have to accomplish this task with increasingly dwindling resources. Engineers are therefore more and more relying on simulation to find the right solutions for mixture preparation, combustion, emission reduction and exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Historically, meeting performance targets and emissions legislation have been almost equal drivers of engine development. However, the need to minimize global warming is now putting the reduction of CO2 emissions at the centre. Hybridisation of vehicle powertrains is an immediate and effective solution to this. On the one hand, the consumption of fossil fuels is significantly reduced by electrified vehicles. On the other hand, propulsion systems that are developed specifically for hybrid operation can be operated much more efficiently than conventional combustion engines. This can be achieved even without the availability of "green electricity".
CO2-free or at least CO2-neutral operation of combustion engines is only possible if fossil fuels are replaced by e-, synthetic and bio-fuels. This is not a new finding. Ethanol is already widely used in vehicles, pure or as an additive. Hydrogen as an energy carrier has also been experimented with since the early days of the car, and around the millennium such vehicles actually went into series production. Today, however, the future of alternative fuels is seen more in heavy-duty transport, shipping and aviation. Simulation is the key to success here as well. That is why we have been supporting the development of alternative combustion engines with our simulation tools and methods since the mid-1990s.
- Scalable simulation models and robust application methods support you in the development of combustion engines that contribute directly and significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Use our proven simulation tools and methods to develop and test new concepts, such as dedicated hydride engines or alternative fuels.
- Get a realistic impression of all processes in the engine at any time, even without the availability of a real prototype.
The combustion engine can and will contribute to sustainable mobility. Together with our customers, we are working every day towards a climate-friendly future.
- Roland Wanker, Vice President, AVL Advanced Simulation Technologies
The mobility revolution is in full swing. This is not just about developing new, more sustainable propulsion systems. Rather, the entire development process is in upheaval - with simulation taking the lead.
Right now, it's important to understand the challenge that each of us - OEMs and suppliers alike - face when it comes to pushing the boundaries of both our design process and our engineers. As the number of different systems grows, departments and team structures are changing. We understand that. At AVL, we go through these processes as well, because we are not just software developers. We are also engineers and therefore users. We implement our knowledge in intuitive workflows, generators, wizards, and evaluations in our software and projects.
