By bringing together a diverse group of partners, C3 has the expertise to develop detailed mechanisms that include PAH and NOx chemistry, create tools for generating surrogate and multi-fuel mechanisms, improve reduction and merging tools, and validate mechanisms using combustion vessel and engine data.

C3 will last for three years with an optional renewal. Consortium money is used to fund R&D at research institutions with expertise in chemical kinetics modeling and experiments. The models, tools, and mechanisms developed by the consortium are for the exclusive use of its members for the three-year duration of C3. The advisory board is comprised of consortium members, with voting rights proportional to the amount of money invested by each member. The board votes on specific fuels and operating conditions of interest.