Engines in the medium-heavy vehicle category are becoming increasingly more efficient and will continue to do so, says a leading engine research executive.
Dennis Huibregtse, senior vice president and interim CEO of Power Systems Research (PSR) made the comments during a presentation to the Filter Manufacturers Council.
PSR is the world’s leading source of data, analysis and forecasting of global engine and engine-powered vehicle and equipment production.
PSR’s scope includes diesel, gasoline, natural gas and electric-powered equipment, as well as their engines, drivetrains and related components.
Engines continue to feature higher power density, Huibregtse told the gathering. For example:
- Displacement is decreasing for given HP output
- Smaller, lighter engine packages are being offered for given HP output
- Truck buyers increasingly are opting for higher HP engines
PSR research shows that engines are becoming smaller and more powerful, he said. Vehicle production with 351-450 HP engines shows the strongest growth, according to Huibregtse.
Other important trends noted by Huibregtse include:
- LPG is gaining share in medium class vehicles
- CNG is gaining share in heavy classes
- Many LPG vehicles have field-converted gasoline engines
- Falling diesel prices have slowed penetration of alternatives
Diesel engines remain the dominant choice of buyers and will not be replaced, even though LPG and CNG have gained share.
