How was the fuel mixture ignited in Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir's 1860 engine?
Answer
By an electric spark.
The Lenoir engine utilized a method of initiating combustion that foreshadowed modern spark-ignited engines. After the illuminating gas mixed with air was drawn into the cylinder during the intake stroke, the mixture was ignited by means of an electric spark. This element of spark ignition placed it firmly within the family of internal combustion engines. However, this system was paired with an operational flaw: the mixture was not compressed beforehand, which limited its power and efficiency significantly compared to cycles developed later by Otto.

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