Cars are self-propelled vehicles that have become integral parts of society. Under the hood, different types of car engines are used, each bringing a peculiarity to the mix.
They tuck away out of sight but are at the heart of every vehicle. The remarkable engineering in cars begins with the engine type.
They go beyond powering the vehicle to determine the quality of the ride.
As a result, manufacturers have developed different car engine types to bring innovation and versatility.
In a few minutes, we will introduce you to the different types of car engines. You will learn what makes them unique, advantages, and limitations.
So, let’s get the ride started.
How Many Types of Car Engines Are There?
The technology of car engines has come a long way since their inception in 1885.
They have gone beyond the simple steam engine to a more intricate and complex piece of engineering.
Nevertheless, all the options you see fall into the following categories:
- Internal combustion engine
- Electric powertrain
- Hybrid engines
These three categories have given birth to diverse designs and implementations.
The constant race to produce more efficient powertrains and adhere to environmentally friendly regulations has improved them.
Although today’s engines resemble what we had decades ago, they are miles apart in technology.
New regulations have stiffened the rope on manufacturers, inevitably giving rise to more efficient engines.
Different Types of Car Engines
1. Internal Combustion Engines
This power train is among the most common and versatile in use today.
It began life as a one-cylinder, two-stroke unit in the 19th century and has evolved into different configurations.
Manufacturers continue to tune this engine type to deliver more power and efficiency. They are quite powerful and versatile, as seen in the following paragraphs.
Internal combustion engines rely on combustion inside a controlled chamber to produce power.
The power then transfers to the wheels through a powertrain that begins with the flywheel.
Among the three types of car engines listed above, it is the only type that uses fossil fuel, petroleum.
It could be gas or diesel, depending on the type of combustion.
That leads us to the two main types of internal combustion engines.
- Spark ignition engines
- Compression ignition engines
Types of Internal Combustion Engines
They include the following:
Spark Ignition Engines
That roaring sound you often hear from supercars comes from spark ignition engines, albeit with some modifications.
They power a higher percentage of cars with internal combustion powertrains.
This engine type has cylinders or combustion chambers where the air-fuel reaction occurs.
Injectors feed fuel into the chamber, while intake valves allow a specific quantity of air to mix with the fuel.
Then, a spark plug ignites the mixture, causing it to burn. That reaction produces vast energy, pushing the piston in the chamber down.
This action turns the flywheel through the crankshaft connection.
At this point, we should list the components for clarity and easy differentiation from other types of car engines.
The parts are as follows:
- Cylinder: This chamber houses the combustion process
- Intake valves: Release air into the combustion chamber
- Injectors or carburetors: Inject metered fuel into the chamber
- Spark plug: Ignites the air-fuel mixture
- Exhaust valves: Removes the burnt mixture
- Pistons: Transmit the downward force of the combustion to the crankshaft
- Crankshaft: Transforms the vertical motion of the pistons into a circular motion.
- Flywheel: Carries the energy from the engine and connects it to the transmission.
The spark plug is the core component of spark ignition engines. Without it, there will be no combustion and no power generation.
These power units use the lighter form of petroleum, gasoline, to create the needed power.
As a result, they have quicker burns and demand more frequent refills. Let us see how the diesel counterpart will fare.
Compression-Ignition Engines
This vehicle’s power type is similar to that of a spark-ignition engine. It uses the combustion chamber and all other latter components but ditches the spark plug.
The combustion in this type of car engine occurs through the combination of heat, air, and pressure.
Once the pressure from the piston reaches a set value, it ignites the air-fuel mixture.
Lighter petroleum products like gasoline cannot combust under pressure.
As a result, compression ignition engines use heavier products, among which diesel is the primary one.
The process remains the same, from combustion to powering the transmission. However, diesel does have some advantages.
Diesel is a heavier hydrocarbon and burns much slower than gasoline. Therefore, its refilling frequency is lower than the spark ignition variants.
They can also produce more power at a certain weight than gasoline variants, which is why they are used in heavy-duty trucks and vehicles.
The compression and spark ignition variants are among the most common types of car engines you will see on the road.
However, new regulations are phasing them out—more on that.
Configurations of the Internal Combustion Engine
Internal combustion powertrains come in different configurations, depending on the manufacturer’s design.
Each design, based on the positioning of the cylinders, has unique advantages and limitations.
The configurations are as follows:
In-line Engines
This configuration is the most basic of them all. Its simplicity and ease of construction make it the design of choice for manufacturers of combustion-type car engines.
The cylinders are laid out in a straight-line pattern, called “straight engines.” Depending on the layout, they could stay parallel or perpendicular.
Either way, their compact nature gives them an advantage over other configurations.
This car engine is prevalent in entry-level cars, including hatchbacks and sedans.
Like other types of car engines, they consume less fuel and often produce the least power. However, add-ons like turbochargers can boost their energy.
V-Engines
In this configuration, the cylinders form a V pattern with an equal number on either side of the V.
They are powerful and present in almost all high-performance vehicles. V engines have some advantages over straight variants.
Manufacturers can add more cylinders while maintaining a compact look. Despite their small size, they can still obtain incredible power.
Notwithstanding, V engines carry more vibration than other types of car engines. That has not stopped them from being the power source for sports cars and hypercars.
Flat Engines
The flat configuration is the last and least common type of internal combustion engine. In this design, the cylinders stay horizontally on either side of the crankshaft.
Flat engines have a low center of gravity, which dramatically improves handling. However, they are more expensive and complex to manufacture.
Only a few car brands still manufacture them, including Subaru and Porsche.
Increasing Power With More Cylinders
Adding more cylinders to an internal combustion engine primarily increases its power. The primary form is the four-cylinder configuration.
Since four cylinders can only produce so much power, car makers often choose six or eight cylinders for their powerful models.
Nonetheless, the added combustion chambers lead to higher fuel combustion.
Most supercar brands have eight to ten or twelve cylinders, naturally aspirated or turbocharged.
A few others go with more cylinders, like Bugatti’s W16 engines, which are immensely powerful.
Limitations of Internal Combustion Engines
These types of car engines have the following limitations:
Emissions
Regardless of the giant strides in their engineering, internal combustion engines are not emission-free.
With global warming occupying most discussions on climate, they are seeing a gradual decline in usage.
Most countries plan on phasing out these power units by 2050. Ideally, internal combustion power units should produce CO2 and water after combustion.
That is often not the case, resulting in the production of CO, a toxic gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.
High Running Cost
Internal combustion engines require regular maintenance to keep them running. Often, drivers must change the oils to prevent knocking.
Depending on the recommended oil products, the cost can quickly become substantial.
2. Electric Engines
Although the world recently witnessed a push for electric vehicles, the technology has existed since the 19th century.
The new push comes in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Using these types of car engines seems to eliminate emissions. While that is true, electric cars could very well be the future of automobiles.
Most governments are taking a step back from internal combustion engines.
Unlike an internal combustion engine, electric cars have a simple architecture.
The components are not as intricate as expected in a conventional spark or compression ignition system.
That brings us to the main components of electric engines, which are as follows:
- Electric Motors: Instead of having combustion chambers that drive a crankshaft, electric motors power the wheels. Some manufacturers could use motors for each wheel or two for the front and rear.
Electric motors could be AC or DC. Nevertheless, the choice will determine whether an inverter is needed.
- Inverter: This component converts the D.C. power from the batteries into A.C. to drive the motors. It is only necessary if the motors are A.C-based.
- Battery: Conventional car engines use fuel and air to produce power. In an electric vehicle, the batteries produce the power to drive the motors.
Electric engines are the hallmarks of most eco-friendly cars because of their non-existent emissions.
3. Hybrid Engines
One thing is sure whether you read this article from your mobile or desktop.
Your device’s battery will run out if you don’t charge it, and the same invariably applies to electric engines.
To solve this problem, manufacturers figured out how to charge the batteries while driving.
That led to the introduction of the hybrid engine, which combines an internal combustion unit with electric power.
Aside from blending the best of battery power and combustion engines, hybrid designs have several benefits.
One of them is reduced emissions compared to internal combustion engines.
Another benefit is the instant torque feel of electric motors. Despite advancements in technology, internal combustion engines lag after start-up.
Supercar brands use hybrid engines to get instant torque and maintain the power of internal combustion units.
Hybrid power occupies a unique spot among the different types of car engines. The primary driver could be the combustion unit or the electric motors.
Hence, hybrid power has different configurations. City cars use electric motors as the primary drivers, while sports cars for concussion units are the primary drivers.
The Future of Car Engines
The current trend indicates that electric power will surmount and ultimately replace other types of car engines.
It has shown ample potential to drive the transport sector.
The many benefits of electric engines include the following:
- Reduced or non-existent emissions.
- Zero noise pollution
- Reduced dependence on oil and petroleum products.
- Flexible designs
Despite the many benefits that abound, electric engines are not without limitations. The cost of producing battery packs is rising, and there have been concerns about mining.
Many believe producing batteries pollutes the environment more than internal combustion engines.
There have been reports of groundwater depletion and soil contamination in the mining areas.
The future is bright, and new technological developments will make battery mining and production more environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
Vehicles have come a long way, and one major development area is the development of new types of car engines.
Innovation continues, from internal combustion and electric power to hybrid units. Internal combustion engines are the longest-serving and most common.
They are found in almost all cars, from sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons to SUVs and trucks, and they come in different configurations.
Internal combustion engines produce emissions, although ideally, they should not. That has led to the rapid development of electric motors.
Hybrid engines combine the best of internal combustion and electric power. They have reduced emissions yet retain the power of combustion units.
The future is bright, and we can expect innovations in car engines. Emissions will be the foundation of any new development, whether we have more electric vehicles or other types of engines.
how does an engine produce a power output (hp)?
Nice article about engines, do you have one which can use gas and may be petrol and automatically switches to each other when one is fully consumed?
i am not aware of any such engine.