Diesel engines: a simple software update could make them eco-friendly

The transition to electric vehicles is very complex, and unrealistic deadlines may be being considered. So scientists are working on ways to make diesel engines a greener option than they are today. A recent study has revealed that, thanks to a software update for these engines, the solution could be simpler than we think.

It was Dr. Carrie Hall, associate professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, who found the key to getting diesel engines to produce less air pollution. To do so, she states in her report, it is enough to make some changes to the engine software so that it can run on other, less polluting fuels.

These changes are based on how the diesel engine works. Unlike the petrol engine, it produces combustion inside the cylinder through the compression of the fuel. For the engine to work properly, it would need to be prepared to modify the level of compression that causes the fuel to burn.

Each type of alternative fuel would require a different compression. The modified software would therefore provide different, specific treatment for each type of fuel. With these modifications to the software, the various types of biofuel they are working on could be used as fuel, considerably reducing polluting emissions.

This study could solve many of the problems facing the real transition towards more sustainable mobility. Electric cars still present serious problems, such as price, range and the charging infrastructure for their batteries. By replacing the software that allows the diesel engine to run, many obstacles would be overcome and combustion engines could be kept going a little longer until the real change arrives.

Is this proposal viable?

In principle, yes. But a type of biofuel that becomes widely available would be needed. Above all, to avoid having to make many changes to the engine software. As I mentioned above, each type of fuel needs a certain compression level to work properly, and a change in its composition would prevent it from burning properly. This would create explosions that would stop the engine from working well.

If a low-emission fuel can be brought to market and become widespread, it would be possible to use this simple trick to extend the useful life of combustion engines. Even the large engines used in trucks could run this way. For now, this fuel does not exist, so work would have to be done to create it, popularise it and thus help keep diesel engines alive in a more sustainable way.