Sometime in the next decade, you might be able to enjoy some of the benefits of a diesel without driving one.

A technology called HCCI improves fuel economy 15 percent and releases less emissions by using a combustion process similar to that used in diesel powerplants.

General Motors continues work on the project, which could be applied across a range of engine sizes and used with other advanced fuel-saving technologies to help the company comply with the proposed new mileage and emissions targets announced Tuesday by President Obama.

The timetable is fairly vague; we should look for it after the Chevrolet Volt but before fuel cells. Daimler and Volkswagen are also among the automakers that have been developing the technology.

HCCI stands for “homogeneous charge compression ignition.” It works by igniting the mixture of air and fuel inside the engine’s cylinders without using a spark-generated flame. That’s similar to how a diesel works, but HCCI runs on regular gasoline or E85 ethanol. The combustion process uses less fuel and more air to generate the same power as a regular engine.

GM cleared a major hurdle by getting the technology to work at idle, and its top speed has been boosted from 55 mph to 60 mph. Still, HCCI faces challenges in coming to the market, as controlling the process can be tricky in extreme temperatures and at high altitudes. And it requires a traditional spark ignition when the engine is cold.

GM also has to figure out a way to apply it and make consumers aware of its benefits. HCCI could be paired with turbo, hybrid or diesel technologies in an effort to increase fuel savings, said Uwe Grebe, executive director of GM Powertrain advanced engineering. The company also would need to retool existing facilities to accommodate production.

Then there’s the name issue. “HCCI” sort off rolls of the tongue, but Grebe admitted it sounds borderline militaristic, and the combustion process isn’t exactly Madison Avenue material.

“I think consumer products need to be easy to understand,” Grebe said. “I want this to be boiled down for what is relevant for the customer. Fuel consumption--you can feel it in the wallet.”

Driving an HCCI vehicle is similar to driving a car powered by a conventional engine. We took a brief test run in a Saturn Aura mule outfitted with the technology, working with a 2.2-liter Ecotec engine, and it responded agreeably. About two-thirds of our time behind the wheel was spent running in compression ignition.

GM appears to be at the forefront of the technology, but it is far from alone in considering its potential. Daimler developed an engine called DiesOtto, and it was shown in the Mercedes-Benz F700 concept in 2007. VW also has prototypes of a similar engine.