BB00.40-P-0110-01A General Information on Fuels

BB00.40-P-0110-01A General Information On Fuels
- sheet 110.1


Energy sources for combustion engines in automobiles are almost solely fuels that are created from petroleum by means of a sophisticated chemical-physical method. These fuels are mixtures of different structured compounds of carbon, hydrogen and possibly oxygen and matched to the engine combustion system. Relative to the identical weight they have - in comparison to other combustible fluids - a large heat content and thus a high energy concentration. This energy is released rapidly and immediately after combustion and converted in the engine into mechanical energy.

The following advantages can be added to the benefits associated with liquid fuel:
1 Simple and reliable metering
2 Simple mixture of the finely atomized fuel with air
3 Low-residue combustion where sufficient air is present
4 Constant operational readiness, if necessary matchable to the outside temperature
5 Simple storage and transport
6 Universal gasoline station network

These properties, in combination with the engine devices and fuel additives (e.g. ignition improver) enable the fuel to be adapted to meet combustion conditions and to put its energy to efficient use.

On a global scale, fuels exhibit different values for their properties. It has been shown however, that these differences, that are primarily reflected in the respective national standards for the fuels, are indeed adequate for the individual vehicle populations in the various countries. Therefore, as long as sufficient fuel is used that meets these standards, then it is not necessary to release or prescribe specific fuel brands.

Urgent action does however seem to be required to present this understanding to a wider public, i.e. that the quality of the fuel exerts a decisive influence on vehicle performance and exhaust gas emissions. Consequentially the fuel grade should be harmonized at an adequate level to meet vehicle requirements. To achieve this goal, the global automotive industry has created the "World Wide Fuel Charter" ("WWFC"), which defines the objectives associated with fuel properties, taking the different air quality targets into consideration. The WWFC is revised at regular intervals and adapted to conform to the latest knowledge.