After the pioneering work which was necessary to introduce the SFS (Software Flex-fuel Sensor) technology in Brazil, Magneti Marelli has innovated again, this time presenting the new TetraFuel System, which it showed in action during the 8th Challenge Bibendum in Paris last weekend. The Magneti Marelli TetraFuel system provides within a single ECU (Electronic Control Unit) an extension of the fuel management capability to four different fuel types, thus enabling a vehicle to be fuelled with a choice of gasoline, gasohol (blend of gasoline mixed with 22% alcohol), pure alcohol or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).

Magnetti Marelli demonstrated the new TetraFuel system fitted to a Fiat Siena at the 8th Challenge Bibendum. Organized by Michelin in close cooperation with a large number of road mobility stakeholders, the Challenge Bibendum was created in 1998 to show-off the wide range of technological solutions that will enable the expected 1.5 billion cars on the roads in 2030 (twice as many as today) to continue supporting economic development and freedom of movement, without creating unacceptable issues for society at large or energy supply problems. Magnetti Marelli's Brazilian engineering development division wholeheartedly embraced the event, with two entries, a Fiat Strada Trakker fitted with FlexFuel technology, and a Fiat Siena that demonstrated the potential of TetraFuel. Both vehicles took part in the series of rallies held around Paris over the course of the weekend.

TetraFuel advantages: Beyond facilitating the export of Brazilian produced vehicles, the technology reduces drastically the conversion/retrofit cost for a change to CNG.
 

As by means of the TetraFuel technology the gas management capability is available as original equipment a series of electric and electronic separate devices, necessary for today’s adaptation, can be eliminated. This is possible by use of the original Magneti Marelli custom-chip, which within one single ECU can control the optimized use of both gasoline and gas. The system offers to the car manufacture an important cost optimization as an identical engine layout can be produced for all Mercosul countries or other continents, which unifies production means and structures for both export and domestic markets.

The TetraFuel approach chooses automatically the fuel option for each driving situation to reach the optimal compromise between performance and fuel economy. Furthermore, the Magneti Marelli TetraFuel system, which is based on a fully integrated low-pressure approach and not on an adaptation, as are current retrofit systems, decreases significantly pollutant emissions and in particular the GHG-emission (Green House Gas - i.e. CO2). The Magneti Marelli TetraFuel system is 100% developed in Brazil, but the technology can be exported to other parts of the world where a strong environmental pressure to reduce overall vehicle pollutant emission levels is present, as in North America, China and Europe.