Combustion engine set to dominate for 25 years, say experts

…”The combustion engine is set to remain the power plant of the future”, said Michael Bargende who heads the Stuttgart-based FKFS research centre for motor vehicle and engine technology, summing up the view of many experts.

This means that engines driven by petrol or diesel will continue to dominate for another 25 years, mainly because the alternative systems still display teething troubles, are too expensive or because other sources of energy are simply not available in sufficient quantity.


“There is no way around this problem because cars have such a lengthy life cycle and new propulsion concepts have to be nurtured for a relatively long time before they are ready”, said Eric Heymann, an analyst with the Deutsche Bank.

Engineers in the research and development departments of the carmakers are moving ahead just one small step at a time. Experts are agreed, for instance, that the petrol-driven engine has much greater scope for fuel-saving than the diesel motor.

Earth Times