Diesels Clean, Green, Fuel-Efficient

Diesel-powered vehicles have been around for a long time.  But now, unlike their predecessors, ‘modern’ diesel-driven vehicles are clean,  quiet, low on emissions, high on power and very fuel-efficient. And, vehicle manufacturers are set to bring more diesel-powered passenger vehicles into the U.S. market.

“Harmful emissions in modern diesel passenger cars have been reduced by 95 percent and fuel consumption by 30 percent, with much of this improvement due to the common rail system developed by Bosch,” said Al Krenz,  director of service for Robert Bosch LLC.

‘Common rail’ refers to the ‘rail’ or tube through which fuel at very high pressure is temporarily stored and distributed to diesel injectors at each cylinder. Each cylinder’s injector controls the moment of injection and the amount of fuel to be precisely injected, resulting in a smooth running, powerful - and quiet - diesel engine. The high injection pressure and precisely actuated injectors atomize the fuel, producing highly efficient combustion.

The diesel engine does not employ a spark plug to ignite the air fuel mixture in the cylinder. Instead, compressing the air in the combustion chamber heats the air to a high temperature, so when fuel is injected into the cylinder and comes in contact with the superheated air, it burns immediately.

Introduced by Bosch to the market 10 years ago on the Alpha Romeo 156 JTD and the Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI, the common rail injection system provides the diesel engine with better performance and higher torque while reducing fuel consumption by 20 to 30 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent, as well as cutting back on noise.

Diesel Wins at LeMans—Again

This past summer, for the second consecutive year, the Audi R10 TDI running with the Bosch high-pressure common rail system specially adapted for racing, claimed the overall win in the legendary 24 hour race at LeMans. A diesel Peugeot Sport 908 HDi FAP, also equipped with Bosch high-pressure common rail system, finished second.

According to Krenz, combining common rail technology with precise new piezo injectors and other measures such as ultra low sulfur diesel fuel and advanced exhaust emission control technologies will help new diesel vehicles meet the most demanding current and future United States emission requirements.

To this end, Bosch recently signed an agreement with Clean Diesel Technologies, a provider of clean energy and environmental technologies,  to reduce harmful engine emissions. Under the agreement, Bosch has secured non-exclusive worldwide rights to patents held by Clean Diesel Technologies for control of oxides of nitrogen emission by selective catalytic reduction (SCR)  as well as other emission reduction patents. In addition to providing a cost-effective control of NOx emissions, these Clean Diesel Technologies developments provide improved fuel economy, also contributing to reduced vehicle carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Bosch is a pioneer in the development and advancement of diesel engine technology, and a leading supplier of parts and systems to vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket.

Although widely popular in Europe and ready to take on the large but highly polluted markets of Asia, the full power and accompanying benefits of diesel are yet to be embraced by the American motorist. As vehicle manufacturers introduce new common rail equipped diesel vehicles to the American market, the number of diesel vehicles on the American roads should grow significantly, according to Krenz (www.boschautoparts.com).