Abstract
The world economy continues to expand, which today and in the next decade is resulting in a growing global energy demand and thus increased CO2 global emissions. Diesel technology needs to continuously support people’s lives and business activities in the future, but how to increase energy efficiency and decrease energy consumption is key. From the viewpoint of Well-to-Wheel energy usage, diesel engines are in no way inferior to rapidly spreading EV and HV powertrains, and excellent internal combustion engines still remain that are fun to drive thanks to high torque production with long cruising range. However, with an increasing demand for lower emissions, in order to survive as one of the major combustion engines in the future, diesel engines will need a technological breakthrough to realize highly efficient and simple exhaust gas purification systems in addition to effective collaboration with electrification and continuous improvement in combustion systems. To achieve this DENSO suggests three innovative technologies: (1) Combustion technology To achieve high power and high efficiency simultaneously, a new fuel injection system concept delivering highly-flexible heat release control is suggested in addition to high-pressure and accurate injection technology that have been tackled already. (2) Exhaust gas purification technology To strictly control emissions under any driving state such as low temperature, a new gas reforming technology using innovative devices such as a ozone reactor is applied to expand the low temperature purification capability potential of the catalysts. (3) Powertrain coordinator To achieve high power, low energy consumption and low emissions simultaneously, the powertrain needs to respond to driver’s request for output, keep the optimum efficiency of the engine, and control the optimum temperature of the exhaust system. For this purpose, a powertrain coordinator which maximizes the benefits of combustion, after treatment and electrification by sensing the state of the engine and emissions is suggested. DENSO will continue leading-edge R&D efforts together with our customers so that diesel engines are able to remain as one of the major combustion engines in the future.