Honda Motor Company's CVCC Engine

PDFTech ReportDOT-TSC-NHTSA-80-03HS-805 268DOT-TSC-1355AutomobilesMotor vehiclesEnergy conservationFuel consumptionForeign automobilesStratified charge enginesExhaust gasesUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationAbernathy, William J.Ronan, LarryJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, (U.S.)United States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationAGR-IMPACTS-EnvironmentNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Environment ImpactsNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Air QualityVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterFrom 1968 to 1972, Honda Motor Co. of Japan designed, tested, and massproduced a stratified charge engine, the CVCC, which was lower in carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and nitrogen oxide emissions and higher in fuel economy than contemporary conventional engines of similar output. Honda developed the CVCC without government assistance or outside help. Honda's success came at a time when steadily increasing fuel costs and the various provisions of the Clean Air Act had forced U.S. automakers to consider possible alternatives to the conventional gasoline engine. While most major engine manufacturers had investigated some form of stratified charge engine, Honda's CVCC was the only one to find successful market application. This case study examines the circumstances surrounding the development of the CVCC engine and its introduction into the Japanese and American markets