Technologies · Page 2
Automotive technologies covering operating principles, sensor and actuator relationships, control strategy, networks and diagnostic measurements.
Alphabetical technical index
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
A system recirculating part of the exhaust to reduce combustion temperature and nitrogen oxides.
Flat / boxer engine
A low-profile engine layout with opposed cylinders arranged horizontally.
Flex-fuel system
A fuel system calibrated to operate with varying petrol-ethanol blends.
FlexRay
An in-vehicle network technology designed for high speed and deterministic timing.
Four-stroke Engine
An engine completing intake, compression, combustion and exhaust over four piston strokes.
Fuel-cell Vehicle
An electric vehicle powered by electricity generated from hydrogen in a fuel cell.
Fuel-cell vehicle
An electric vehicle using a fuel cell to generate electricity from hydrogen.
Full Hybrid
A hybrid powertrain capable of limited electric-only propulsion.
Gasoline Direct Injection
An injection system delivering gasoline directly into the combustion chamber.
Gasoline Engine
A spark-ignition internal-combustion engine using gasoline or similar volatile fuels.
Gasoline particulate filter
A filter reducing particulate emissions from direct-injection petrol engines.
Gasoline Particulate Filter
A filter reducing particulate emissions from gasoline engines.
High-pressure fuel pump
A pump generating fuel pressure for direct-injection systems.
Hydraulic power steering
A system reducing steering effort using an engine-driven pump and hydraulic pressure.
Hydrogen Combustion Engine
A power system burning hydrogen in an internal-combustion engine cycle.
Induction motor
An AC electric motor producing rotor current through electromagnetic induction.
Inline Engine
An engine architecture with cylinders arranged in a single bank.
K-Line
A single-wire serial line used for diagnostics in earlier vehicle generations.
Lane-keeping assist
A system providing steering assistance to reduce unintended lane departure.
Limited-slip differential
A differential limiting excessive speed difference between driven wheels.
LIN Bus
A serial communication network for low-cost local automotive electronics.
Liquid cooling
Engine cooling that transfers heat through coolant and a radiator circuit.
Lithium iron phosphate battery
A lithium-ion chemistry using lithium iron phosphate as the cathode material.
Lithium-ion battery
A rechargeable battery family storing energy through movement of lithium ions between electrodes.
Locking differential
A mechanism forcing both differential outputs to rotate at the same speed.
LPG fuel system
A system storing, regulating and metering liquefied petroleum gas to an engine.
MacPherson strut
An independent suspension using the strut assembly as an upper locating member.
Mild Hybrid
A hybrid layout in which an electric machine provides limited assistance to the combustion engine.
Miller cycle
A cycle altering effective compression through valve timing and often forced induction.
Multi-link suspension
A suspension controlling wheel motion through multiple independent links.
Multi-point injection
A system using a dedicated injector for each cylinder intake port.
Nickel-metal hydride battery
A rechargeable battery chemistry long used in hybrid vehicles.
NOx sensor
A sensor measuring nitrogen-oxide concentration to provide feedback for emissions control.
OBD-II
A standardised framework for accessing vehicle emissions and powertrain diagnostic information.
On-board charger
Vehicle electronics converting AC grid power into controlled DC power for the battery.
Open differential
A differential distributing axle torque while allowing different wheel speeds.
Parallel hybrid
A hybrid where engine and electric machine can both connect mechanically to the driveline.
Permanent-magnet synchronous motor
A synchronous electric machine using permanent magnets in its rotor.
Piezoelectric injector
An injector using a piezoelectric element for fast and precise fuel metering.
Plug-in Hybrid
A hybrid powertrain with a larger battery chargeable from an external source.
Power-split e-CVT
A hybrid power-split system coordinating engine and electric machines through a planetary gearset.
Propeller shaft
A rotating shaft transmitting torque from a transmission or transfer case to an axle.
Regenerative braking
Using the electric machine as a generator during deceleration to recover energy into the battery.
SAE J1939
A CAN-based messaging and diagnostics family used in heavy-duty vehicles.
Seat-belt pretensioner
A mechanism rapidly removing belt slack at the start of a crash.
Selective Catalytic Reduction
An emissions system using a reagent in the exhaust stream to reduce nitrogen oxides.
Selective catalytic reduction
A system reducing nitrogen oxides in exhaust using a reductant.
Sequential turbocharging
A forced-induction system bringing turbochargers into operation in stages.