Bosch announced yesterday that it has achieved a diesel emissions breakthrough that will not only comply with present emissions standards but will achieve NOx emissions 10 times lower than the upcoming 2020 RDE standard limits. Bosch says that their breakthrough achieves low emissions with no need for additional components that would drive up costs. More info here: http://www.bosch-presse.de/presspor...-provides-solution-to-nox-problem-155524.html
The same Bosch that was at the heart of VW's diesel emissions cheating? Yeah, we'll see about that...
I think the jury is still out about Bosch's involvement. They still say their software was misused by VW group. I don't know. Anyway, if they have what they say they have, it's a major step forward for diesel technology. The press release is somewhat obtuse about the details that seem to revolve around improved EGR management:
I just bought a 2013 Mercedes Sprinter which has a 3.0 turbo diesel. They make it sound like I can add the new tech like a retrofit? Let see how many new cars come over with the new tech?
Emissions cheat or no, I'm more inclined towards lower overall costs than worrying about emissions. Then again, emissions have never been anything but at best a tertiary goal of mine.
Yeah, but jcp, your govt. won't let you buy a low-cost vehicle that doesn't meet their emissions regulations (among others). As far as emerging piston-engine technology goes, I'm most bullish on Mazda's SPCCI engine because the homogenous nature of the gasoline intake stroke mixes gasoline with air better for lower particulate emissions with less injector pressure. Diesels require much higher injector pressure and still have higher particulate emissions than gasoline because diesel ignites as soon as it's injected. On the other hand, gasoline doesn't have as much energy (BTUs) as diesel. If the cost of diesel is lower or equal to gasoline, you'd rather burn it for the economy. Even if I never buy a diesel, I'm stoked for this technology. Anything that will make the stinky diesels that other people drive less stinky is all good.
Hi Jay: After reading the white paper, they do have a better solution with what appears to be an air pump??? and forcing a higher EGT with a small consumption increase during city driving. Maybe this is explains why the GM TDs city efficiency has always been so subpar all of these years? In any case, VW just will not speak about or touch the TDI here in the states and everyone else is gun shy as hell. Mazda's SKYACTIV-D? For the umpteenth time, its release is just weeks away... For years. An easy to garner 45 percent Thermodynamic efficiency without driveability concerns but these emissions hurdles are going to stifle inclusion for years to come due to the TDI debacle. That and the fact the refiners and Oil companies are cleaning up on diesel fuel with significantly higher prices across the country yet lower refining cots. The price at the pump discrepancy will keep diesels out of our hands for the time being as nobody likes to pay for Premium when their car runs fine on 87. Diesel fuel prices have that kind of delta and more in many regions. The other day I saw a 15 or 16 Golf parked and its occupants were just about to pull out of a store parking space. I could hear that wonderful light clatter of the Turbo Diesel Motors injectors and combustion. I approached and spoke with the owner for a few minutes about his TDI. He purchased it as an "emissions fixed" vehicle that was fully loaded and retailed for $32k for $24k with < 10k on its odometer just a few weeks ago. A good upfront price for a fully loaded Golf SEL but it is still a 2 or 3 year old vehicle and that will eventually show up at trade-in time. Adding in the higher maintenance and fuel costs, a brand new and fully loaded 18 Elantra Limited can be picked up for < $20k brand new. Every time I see a TDI on the road I cannot think of a better drivetrain and how I wished I owned one. At the same time, I am also a pragmatist. With the fuel price discrepancy and higher maintenance costs, I also have to weigh that in with the desire. My 18 Elantra ECO wins that internal battle every time unfortunately. 2015 VW Golf TDI High above Lake Yellowstone. Wayne
I have been talking to our local VW dealer about a TDI that has been "legalized". They have a Golf Sportwagen 6MT , a 2013 model I think , and they really want me to come in for a test drive. Too bad my licence is suspended until Aug 13.
Wayne, I feel the same way regarding the high price of diesel. Or at least the highly variable price of diesel. Sometimes it is competitively priced with gasoline but I've seen $1 premiums for it also. No thanks for me. Many truck owners still opt for diesels because they like the way it tows. Do pickup trucks get a bye in emissions regulations? It seems that the bar is set much lower for pickup trucks in the US. Protection for the domestic truck makers? In my area, lots of diesel trucks are chipped to make them coal burners. Owners delight in spewing big thick clouds of toxic black smoke. What fun.
Depends on what classification the trucks are under. The 3/4-ton and one-ton pickup trucks (e.g., Ram 2500/3500) do have a different set of emission regulations that are not quite as strict as the passenger car emission regs. However, the 1/2-ton trucks (e.g., Ram 1500) have to meet the same set of emission standards as passenger cars. One thing do I find less objectionable about the Tier 3 standards is that NMOG and NOx emissions are now combined into a single regulated metric. Since diesels tend to have near-zero NMOG emissions, hitting the NOx emissions is not quite as difficult as Tier 2 was.
