Aramco and Hyundai collaborate on advanced fuels for hybrid EVs

Aramco has joined hands with Hyundai Motor Group and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to jointly research and develop an advanced fuel for an ultra lean-burn, spark-ignition engine that aims to lower the overall CO2 emissions of a vehicle, the entities said on Tuesday.

The two-year partnership will develop an optimal fuel formulation for use in combination with a novel combustion system in an electrified hybrid vehicle, the entities said in a statement. The research team will aim to reduce CO2 emissions by deploying Hyundai Motor Group’s ultra-lean burn combustion design in a modern hybrid vehicle, they said.

“As hybrid electrical vehicles are rolled out, the real challenge now lies in making strides with optimal fuels and exceptional combustion systems,” Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, Aramco’s Chief Technology Officer, said in a statement.

“The Aramco team provides fuel design and blending know-how to improve Hyundai Motor Group engine combustion performance and the outcome could lead to the application of synthetic e-fuels. This is a space in which we are pushing boundaries and we are excited to be part of it,” he added.

Aramco, which has significant research and operational experience in fuel formulations, will leverage in-house expertise to carefully design an optimal fuel formulation. Hyundai Motor Group, with its automotive and technology leadership, will provide a state-of-the-art ultra-lean gasoline engine for use by the research team. The tests will be conducted by researchers in the Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC) at KAUST.

Aramco‘s R&D efforts aim to accelerate transportation technologies that can reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency, engaging in partnerships with leading automakers worldwide through the company’s research centers in Dhahran, Paris, Detroit, and Shanghai, the company said.