How about enjoying the benefits of diesel without having to drive a car with a diesel engine? Odd as it may seem but it might be the reality in the future when the HCCI technology is implemented for power plants under the hood of your car.

HCCI or homogenous charge compression ignition is designed to have lesser emissions and saving about 15% more of your fuel. This is all made possible by making use of a combustion process used in diesel engines.

General Motors carries on with the research which if successful can be used on a wide array of engine builds and be combined with other fuel saving technologies. HCCI will also help GM meet the stricter emission and mileage proposals of the federal government.

When this new technology will be implemented does not have a clear cut schedule. It may come before the advantages of using the fuel cells and definitely after the Volt of Chevrolet. Other car manufacturers like Volkswagen and Daimler are also investing money and expertise to develop the new technology.

HCCI works by igniting the fuel inside the cylinder of the engine without making use of any spark produced flame. HCCI works on E85 or regular gasoline fuel. The process aimed to be perfected will be using more air to generate the same power of a regular engine but with much better fuel efficiency.

General Motors faces a great hurdle to make the technology work while the engine is on idle. The top speed of the engine has also been improved to 60 mph from 55 mph. Other concerns will be operating such engine in high altitudes and extreme temperatures. The engine will also need the usual spark ignition to start the engine when operated in cold weather.