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Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion has the potential to produce low NOx and low particulate matter (PM) emissions while providing high efficiency. In HCCI combustion, the start of auto-ignition of premixed fuel and air depends on temperature, pressure, concentration history during the compression stroke, and the unique reaction kinetics of the fuel/air mixture. For these reasons, the choice of fuel has a significant impact on both engine design and control strategies. In this paper, ten (10) gasoline-like testing fuels, statistically representative of blends of four blending streams that spanned the ranges of selected fuel properties, were tested in a single cylinder engine equipped with a hydraulic variable valve train (VVT) and gasoline direct injection (GDI) system.

Hybrid vehicles may respond to fuel variables in unique ways; they could even require a unique driveability test. The Coordinating Research Council (CRC) conducted a program to determine the effect of ethanol content on driveability performance under cool ambient conditions. In addition to the 27 vehicles in the main fleet, four hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) were tested using the same fuels and driveability procedure. These HEVs responded to fuel in a manner similar to conventional vehicles; however, the HEVs showed unique driving characteristics not well captured in the existing test.