The Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) initiative demonstrated the power of collaboration at the heart of big science. Nine Department of Energy national laboratories, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, worked together to create breakthroughs in more efficient, higher-performing fuels and engines. This effort was the first to explore how advanced fuels and engines can work together to reduce reliance on foreign oil, strengthen the energy market, and foster future innovation.
Why it matters:
Today’s engines are more capable than ever with the potential for improved performance with new fuel formulations. Discovering how simultaneous innovations in fuel and engine design can work together improves performance and fuel economy, offering cost savings to consumers and businesses.
Real-world impact:
Co-Optima’s findings show measurable improvements in engine efficiency using advanced fuel-engine combinations.
Light-duty vehicles showed:
- Up to a 10 percent boost in engine efficiency with turbocharged spark ignition engines
- An additional 9–14 percent gain in fuel economy using multimode combustion approaches
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles showed:
- Up to a 4 percent efficiency improvement with advanced compression ignition engines
- A 99 percent reduction in soot emissions
The benefits:
- Improved energy efficiency across vehicle classes
- Supported collaborative innovation in both fuels and engines
- Potential for up to 500,000 new jobs in biorefineries
- Seven bio-based blendstocks identified with prices comparable to gasoline
The innovation:
Co-Optima researchers uncovered fuel properties and chemical characteristics critical for unlocking performance gains in high-efficiency engines. By pairing combustion science with engine modeling and testing, the team developed fuel-engine combinations that both improve fuel economy and increase power output. This integrated approach bridges the gap between laboratory research and commercial vehicle technologies, paving the way for domestically produced fuels that strengthen the supply chain.
Backed by science:
Co-Optima united more than 100 researchers and 40 industry and academic partners to help American-made biofuels achieve better engine efficiency and performance. The project supports U.S. energy goals and strengthens domestic supply chains, reducing dependence on foreign oil and improving resilience across the transportation sector.
The collaboration included input from nine DOE national laboratories: Argonne, Lawrence Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest, Sandia, and Savannah River.
Deep dive:
Read more about Co-Optima’s integrated fuel-engine research and how this collaboration is accelerating transportation innovation and advancing U.S. energy priorities.
The big picture:
Through strong collaboration and scientific innovation, Co-Optima helped define a path to a more affordable and energy-secure future for U.S. transportation. In the process, it showcased the power of large-scale teamwork across the national laboratory system.