Features
26 avr 18

Bosch claims it can save diesel engines

Engine parts manufacturer Bosch claims it has achieved a breakthrough in diesel technology that dramatically cuts NOx emissions.

The company says that in RDE (real-driving emissions) testing, emissions from vehicles equipped with its new technology are not only significantly below the current limits but also below the limits that are to come into force in 2020.

Future for diesel

“This breakthrough offers the opportunity to shift the heated debate over diesel into new territory and, hopefully, bring it to a close," said Chief Executive Officer Volkmar Denner at a press conference outside Stuttgart earlier this week. "There's a future for diesel."

Bosch is the biggest supplier of diesel-engine technology to a wide range of carmakers from Volkswagen to General Motors and FCA. The company has stepped up efforts to defend its shrinking market share amidst growing consumer preference for petrol cars over diesel cars.

Over the last couple of years, the share of diesel-powered cars in Europe has dropped to 38%. Only one year ago, that number was still 46%.

1/10

Carmakers have long relied on diesel to help meet CO2 emission standards. However, at the same time as emitting less CO2 than petrol-powered engines, diesel engines generate nitrogen oxides that contribute to smog, a problem in most big cities.

Bosch's new process optimises thermal management of exhaust temperatures and slashes NOx emissions to one tenth of the legal limit. "It doesn't even require new hardware," Denner said. "The system keeps emissions stable even at cold temperatures."

The system will be available for new cars and cannot be retrofitted to older cars, a spokesperson told Bloomberg.

Authored by: Benjamin Uyttebroeck