The Vehicle Technologies Office’s communications team sat down with Gurpreet Singh, Program Manager for VTO’s Advanced Combustion Systems and Fuels Program. The program conducts research in seven focus areas: combustion research, co-optimization of engines and fuels, alternative fueled engines, emission control, advanced lubricants, high efficiency engine technologies, and system level efficiency improvements.

I have been with the Vehicle Technologies Office since 1994, starting as a technology manager for combustion engine research.

I’ve always been interested in cars and trucks so I studied mechanical engineering in college. In my senior year at the University of Maryland, I accepted an opportunity to work in the Engine R&D Division at a Navy laboratory. During my 10 years with the Navy, I conducted engine improvement programs for a variety of ships and submarines. I was very excited to join DOE/VTO which allowed me to apply my knowledge of engine technology to cars and trucks.

Our work focuses on research so every day there is something new and exciting. The technologies we are developing may not be on a commercial vehicle for 10-15 years. However, many engine technologies we have helped develop are saving fuel in cars and trucks that are on the road now while reducing emission.

Most people don’t realize how much the fuel economy of cars and trucks has improved over the past decades. When I started my career, most cars were getting less than 20 miles per gallon with 0-60 MPH times of about 10 seconds. Over the years, cars and SUVs have gotten bigger and heavier, however, the 0-60 MPH times have decreased to around 7 seconds and fuel economy of many non-hybrid models is around 30 MPG and some models get over 40 MPG. Most of the increase in fuel economy can be attributed to improvements in the engines and transmissions. Similarly for trucks, their fuel economy has doubled and our SuperTruck projects demonstrated over 12 MPG in a Class 8 tractor-trailer. Also, emissions for both cars and trucks have been reduced by over 95%. This is really amazing.

I’ve played tennis all my life and continue to play 2-3 times a week. I recently started riding a road bike and completed two century rides and plan do at least one this year. I also enjoy working with my hands doing carpentry projects, working on cars and landscaping.