An internal combustion-type engine or powertrain that is capable of burning wet-alcohol fuel mixture and including a piston reciprocating within a cylinder attached to a cylinder head and connecting to a crank shaft via a connecting rod. An intake cam and valve is mounted within an intake port formed in the cylinder head and an exhaust cam and valve is mounted within an exhaust port also formed in the cylinder head. A pressurized fuel source is introduced into the cylinder by a fuel injector and the percentage of water in the alcohol/water mix operates to prolong the cylinder pressure in order to increase a mean effective pressure (IMEP), leading to a higher torque (improved Brake Mean Effective Pressure—BMEP) of the engine via a longer pressure pulse attained during the period of preferred mechanical advantage of the crank-arm of the engine.

An internal combustion-type engine or powertrain that is capable of burning wet-alcohol fuel mixture and including a piston reciprocating within a cylinder attached to a cylinder head and connecting to a crank shaft via a connecting rod. An intake cam and valve is mounted within an intake port formed in the cylinder head and an exhaust cam and valve is mounted within an exhaust port also formed in the cylinder head. A pressurized fuel source is introduced into the cylinder by a fuel injector and the percentage of water in the alcohol/water mix operates to prolong the cylinder pressure in order to increase a mean effective pressure (IMEP), leading to a higher torque (improved Brake Mean Effective PressureBMEP) of the engine via a longer pressure pulse attained during the period of preferred mechanical advantage of the crank-arm of the engine.

An ignition system for a vehicle internal combustion engine (12) has a capsule defining a pre-chamber (136), an ignition fuel supply system (500) configured to inject an ignition fuel to the pre-chamber to create an ignition fuel-air mix in the pre-chamber, an ignition surface (137) within the pre-chamber, the ignition surface being defined by an interior surface of the capsule and configured to be contacted by the ignition fuel in the pre-chamber to thereby ignite the ignition fuel by hot surface ignition, and at least one jet nozzle (152). The ignition fuel is characterised by having a carbon content by mass less than 65%, a hot surface ignition temperature less than 500 deg C., and a volumetric energy density (LHV) greater than 18 MJ/L. The at least one jet nozzle is configured such that ignition of the ignition fuel by contact with the ignition surface causes at least one of hot gases, partially combusted fuel and flames to leave the pre-chamber through the at least one jet nozzle.

An ignition system for a vehicle internal combustion engine (12) has a capsule defining a pre-chamber (136), an ignition fuel supply system (500) configured to inject an ignition fuel to the pre-chamber to create an ignition fuel-air mix in the pre-chamber, an ignition surface (137) within the pre-chamber, the ignition surface being defined by an interior surface of the capsule and configured to be contacted by the ignition fuel in the pre-chamber to thereby ignite the ignition fuel by hot surface ignition, and at least one jet nozzle (152). The ignition fuel is characterised by having a carbon content by mass less than 65%, a hot surface ignition temperature less than 500 deg C., and a volumetric energy density (LHV) greater than 18 MJ/L. The at least one jet nozzle is configured such that ignition of the ignition fuel by contact with the ignition surface causes at least one of hot gases, partially combusted fuel and flames to leave the pre-chamber through the at least one jet nozzle.