Dear Colleagues,

The automobile industry is one of the fastest industries in the world. The industry is a pillar of the global economy, a main driver of macroeconomic growth and stability and technological advancement in both developed and developing countries, spanning many adjacent industries.  

Thus, the grand challenge faced by engine and automotive engineering researchers over the next decades will be to devise technological advances that maximize engine efficiency, minimize pollutant emissions, and optimize tolerance to a wider variety of fuels in power generation and transportation systems.

The internal combustion engine (ICE) will be the dominant prime mover for light-duty vehicles for many years, probably decades. Thus, it is clearly important to perform R&D to provide a better understanding of the fundamental processes affecting engine efficiency and the production of undesirable emissions.

Oil provides 33% of the world’s energy and transportation engines account for over 60% of the 70 million barrels of crude used each day. Engines power the world’s roughly over one billion passenger vehicles, as well as trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.

New concept engines should be able to use available fuels, and new fuels must run in existing engines like biofuels (e.g., think ethanol or biodiesel).

Electric and hybrid vehicles (electric and hybrid vehicles can be classified into three types as tabulated in electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs), and full electric vehicles (EVs).) are gaining popularity due to their low carbon footprint and ease of integration with renewable energy. They are an important element in the smart grid ecosystem. Increasing the driving range of storage-driven electric vehicles is the biggest challenge facing the lightweight electric vehicle industry.

Technology Trends in the Automotive Industry should be adopted:  Automotive R&D spending and requirements are expanding rapidly to keep pace with the demands for ever more sophisticated and effective new technologies.

Environmental Regulation in the Automotive Industry: The automotive industry is evolving rapidly on multiple dimensions technological innovation, adoption of stricter government regulations, and structural shifts with changing consumer preferences. Some countries have put in place policies to address transport issues including emission norms and fuel efficiency standards. Fuel economy programs and emission targets (mandatory or voluntary) are one of the most cost-effective instruments to tackle oil demand and vehicular emissions.

The automobile industry touches every segment of society. The automotive industry is evolving rapidly on multiple dimensions technological innovation, adoption of stricter government regulations, and structural shifts with changing consumer preferences. Several countries have put in place policies to address transport issues including emission norms and fuel efficiency standards. The industry is undergoing changes at an extremely fast pace, from product variety, fuel consumption, and emissions to safety, comfort, and pricing. Innovation and adoption of new technologies are vital and must go in parallel with stricter government regulations, structural changes in the industry, and changing consumer preferences. Innovation and adoption of new technologies are vital and must go in parallel with stricter government regulations, structural changes in the industry, and changing consumer preferences.

Thus, we are interested in the grand challenges faced by engine and automotive engineering researchers toward technological advances that maximize engine efficiency, minimize pollutant emissions, and optimize tolerance to a wider variety of fuels in power generation and transportation systems or improvements.

Submissions may be Original Research; Review Articles; Case Studies; etc.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Section Editors:

Prof.Freddie Liswaniso Inambao

Prof.Xinhua Liu