Co-Optima Initiative Fuels Combustion Engine Efficiency

With a growing push for clean, reliable transportation, Americans in the 21st century face the complex challenge of balancing a commitment to low-carbon emissions with performance and cost efficiencies. In tandem with our emphasis on electrification, the Energy Department is improving on current technologies to provide a balanced portfolio in sustainable transportation. Researchers over the last decade have identified new combustion strategies that—especially when optimized to run on new fuels—could achieve significantly higher efficiencies and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions than current engines. Collaboration between industry stakeholders and our national laboratories has created the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) initiative to introduce disruptive innovations both in new biofuels and engine performance improvements.

Building on more than a decade of ground-breaking research in powertrain technology, Co-Optima’s phased approach will co-optimize low-carbon fuel blends with engine design to maximize performance at a lower price point and environmental impact.

Co-Optima has two goals: to bring new engines and fuels to market within a decade and to demonstrate new combustion technologies by 2030 with the potential for a 30% reduction in petroleum consumption nationwide. Co-Optima brings the leverage necessary to create a commercial pathway to economical, sustainable, and scalable engines and fuels more quickly than what would otherwise occur through conventional timelines. Once introduced, these break-through technologies will pave the way to an even greater pay-off as new vehicles penetrate the marketplace in subsequent years.

Co-Optima has two goals: to bring new engines and fuels to market within a decade and to demonstrate new combustion technologies by 2030 with the potential for a 30% reduction in petroleum consumption nationwide. 

NATIONAL LABS EYE CO-OPTIMIZED SOLUTIONS

Modern cars and trucks on the road today provide much higher fuel economy than earlier models. While improvements continue, an even greater impact on GHG emissions could be realized by tapping into sustainable biomass. Experts predict that the quantities of biomass available today could generate more than 20 billion gallons of advanced biofuel annually, to be blended with petroleum fuels.

Until now, biofuels research has not been fully integrated with combustion technologies. The EERE Co-Optima initiative leverages the expertise of the Vehicle and Bioenergy technologies offices to pursue innovative research partnerships with 10 national laboratories. The Energy Department has awarded $32 million of initial funding to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Argonne, Idaho, Lawrence Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest, and Sandia national laboratories.

Earlier this week, the Energy Department announced up to $7 million in funding to accelerate the introduction of affordable, scalable, and sustainable high-performance fuels for use in high-efficiency, low-emission engines as part of the Co-Optima initiative. This funding will advance the long-term objective of Co-Optima to accelerate widespread deployment of significantly improved fuels and vehicles—from passenger to light truck to heavy-duty commercial vehicles—by 2030.

This article was originally published in Amped Up!, EERE’s magazine that highlights breaking technologies and achievements in renewable power, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation that influence global change toward a clean energy economy. To catch up on more EERE news, check out Amped Up!'s new website.