From Motor Magazine, 2018

"New Bosch technology already meets future emissions standards- contributed by Bob Chabot June 19, 2018

“Bosch wants to put a stop, once and for all, to the debate about the demise of diesel technology,” announced Bosch CEO Dr. Volkmar Denner, during his address at the company’s annual press conference. He introduced new technology from Bosch that could enable vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) so drastically that they would already comply with future limits.

There is No Need for Additional Components, Which Would Drive Up Costs
“Bosch engineers achieved these results by refining existing technologies,” Denner said. “Even in real driving emissions (RDE) testing, emissions from vehicles equipped with the new Bosch diesel technology are not only significantly below current limits but also those scheduled to come into force in 2020.”

Equipped with the latest Bosch technology, diesel vehicles will be able to be classified as low-emission vehicles and yet remain affordable. Denner also called for greater transparency with regard to the CO2 emissions caused by road traffic, and called for fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions to also be measured under real conditions on the road in the future.

“Thirteen milligrams of NOx in standard legally-compliant RDE cycles is approximately one-tenth of the prescribed limit that will apply after 2020,” Denner noted. “And even when driving in particularly challenging urban conditions, where test parameters are well in excess of legal requirements, the average emissions of the Bosch test vehicles are as low as 40 milligrams per kilometer. This advance will allow diesel to remain an option in urban traffic.

Diesel Passenger Vehicles and Trucks to Remain an Option in Urban Traffic
“Bosch delivered proof of this innovative advance at the press event in Stuttgart. In addition, dozens of journalists, both from Germany and abroad, had the opportunity to test drive vehicles equipped with RDE mobile measuring equipment in heavy city traffic, under especially challenging conditions. Since the measures to reduce NOx emissions do not significantly impact consumption, the diesel retains its comparative advantage in terms of fuel economy, CO2 emissions, and therefore climate-friendliness.

To make these low readings possible, Bosch engineers employed a combination of advanced fuel-injection technology, a newly developed air management system, and intelligent temperature management. NOx emissions can now remain below the legally permitted level in all driving situations, irrespective of whether the vehicle is driven dynamically or slowly, in freezing conditions or in summer temperatures, on the freeway or in congested city traffic. Diesel will remain an option in urban traffic, whether drivers are tradespeople or commuters.

“Even with this technological advance, the diesel engine has not yet reached its full development potential. Bosch now aims to use artificial intelligence to build on these latest advances. This will mark another step toward a major landmark: the development of a combustion engine that — with the exception of CO2 — has virtually no impact on the ambient air.

“We firmly believe that the diesel engine will continue to play an important role in the options for future mobility,” Denner explained. “Until electromobility breaks through to the mass market, we will still need these highly efficient combustion engines.”

His ambitious target for Bosch engineers is the development of a new generation of diesel and gasoline engines that produce no significant particulate or NOx emissions. Denner’s goal: He wants future combustion engines to be responsible for no more than one microgram of NOx per cubic meter of ambient air – the equivalent of one-fortieth, or 2.5 percent, of today’s limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter.

His ambitious target for Bosch engineers is the development of a new generation of diesel and gasoline engines that produce no significant particulate or NOx emissions. Denner’s goal: He wants future combustion engines to be responsible for no more than one microgram of NOx per cubic meter of ambient air – the equivalent of one-fortieth, or 2.5 percent, of today’s limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter.

Bosch Wants to Continue Fueling Progress with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

“Denner also called for a renewed focus on CO2 emissions, which are directly related to fuel consumption. He said that consumption tests should no longer be conducted in the lab but rather under real driving conditions. This would create a system comparable to the one used for measuring emissions. “That means greater transparency for the consumer and more focused climate action,” Denner said.

“Moreover, any assessment of CO2 emissions should extend significantly further than the fuel tank or the battery. We need a transparent assessment of the overall CO2 emissions produced by road traffic, including not only the emissions of the vehicles themselves but also the emissions caused by the production of the fuel or electricity used to power them.”

He added that a more inclusive CO2 footprint would provide drivers of electric vehicles with a more realistic picture of the impact of this form of mobility on the climate. At the same time, the use of non-fossil fuels could further improve the CO2 footprint of combustion engines. He also noted Bosch’s product development code is now based on an ethical technology design: First, the incorporation of functions that automatically detect test cycles is strictly forbidden. Second, Bosch products must not be optimized for test situations. Third, normal, everyday use of Bosch products should safeguard human life as well as conserve resources and protect the environment to the greatest possible extent.

“In addition, the principle of legality and our ‘Invented for life’ ethos guide our actions; if in doubt, Bosch values take precedence over customers’ wishes,” Denner said. Since mid-2017, for example, Bosch has no longer been involved in customer projects in Europe for gasoline engines that do not involve the use of a particulate filter. A total of 70,000 associates, mainly from research and development, will receive training in the new principles by the end of 2018, as part of the most extensive training program in the company’s more than 130-year history.

Bosch Opts for a Sophisticated Thermal Management system for Diesel
“To date, two factors have hindered the reduction of NOx emissions in diesel vehicles. The first of these is driving style. The technological solution developed by Bosch is a highly responsive air-flow management system for the engine. A dynamic driving style demands an equally dynamic recirculation of exhaust gases. This can be achieved with the use of an RDE-optimized turbocharger that reacts more quickly than conventional turbochargers. Thanks to a combination of high- and low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation, the airflow management system becomes even more flexible. This means drivers can drive off at speed without a spike in emissions. Equally important is the influence of temperature.

Thermal management is the other factor. To ensure optimum NOx conversion, the exhaust gases must be hotter than 200 degrees Celsius. In urban driving, vehicles frequently fail to reach this temperature. As a result, the exhaust system cools down. Bosch’s new thermal management system remedies this problem by actively regulating the exhaust gas temperature. Actively regulating the exhaust-gas temperature ensures that the exhaust system stays hot enough to function within a stable temperature range and that emissions remain at a low level.

Bosch’s new diesel system is based on components that are already available in the market. It is available to customers effective immediately and can be incorporated into production projects. For example, an extra 48-volt on-board electrical system is not required. The decisive advance comes from a new combination of existing technology.

“Consequently, reducing emissions will not make diesel vehicles any less affordable,” Denner advised. “Our engineers’ goal was clear: To reduce NOx emissions while retaining the diesel’s comparative advantage in terms of CO2 emissions. Diesel will thus remain a climate-friendly option for the foreseeable future.”

Count on a lot of independent testing to verify the validity of Bosch’s claims. If successful, despite its negative reputation in recent years, diesel may not be dead yet.