Lasers to spark a more efficient future?

Are lasers set to replace spark plugs?
Image creds: Stock.xchng

The spark plug has been a crucial part of the internal combustion engine since the first days of motorised transport, and as a component it has not changed hugely in around 150 years.

However, BBC reporting has suggested that the introduction of lasers to this part of an engine could increase the overall efficiency of the vehicle. By using lasers, teams of researchers from Japan and Romania have shown that it is possible to ignite a higher percentage of the fuel exposed to this next-generation ‘spark plug’, immediately increasing engine efficiency.

Although this technology is not yet commercially available, it is another indicator of how researchers are looking for new and innovative ways to increase the efficiency of traditional-fuel vehicles in the face of rising fuel costs. It can be hoped that such developments will contribute to a new generation of cleaner vehicles as manufacturers work towards a truly zero-emissions solution to the issue of business transport.