What can be done to improve the efficiency of an automobile that runs entirely on fossil fuels?
(1) Run the engine fuel-lean… use excess air. (2) Improve lean flammability in gasoline engines through different gasoline mixtures. (3) Enable the engine to utilize higher compression ratios – currently limited by gasoline autoignition, or “knock.” (4) Put need new cycles put into practical use. An example is the Atkinson cycle. Throws away less waste heat. (5) Run the engine at optimum conditions, meaning low friction (modest engine speed) and low pumping work (air throttle more open). There are all sorts of modifications that can be done to the internal combustion engine in concert with chemical/physical changes to common gasoline that would dramatically increase the efficiency of the ancient ICE.
