Engines from MAN – From a Single Basic Principle to a Hightech Product

Authors

Dr.-Ing. G. Pachta-Reyhofen, Member of the Board, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG, Munich

Year

2004

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Reihe 12, Nr. 566

Summary

An ingenious idea from Rudolf Diesel laid the foundation for a new drive technology on which today the engines of almost all heavy commercial vehicles are based. It was thus also a major contribution to the exchange of goods within and across national frontiers and is an important factor in the prosperity we enjoy today. Whereas the steam engine had an efficiency of less than 10 %, Rudolf Diesel managed at a stroke to boost that of his first engine, which weighed 5 tonnes, to 26 %. For all that the displacement of 19.7 litre supplied just 15 kW. The diesel engine has been subjected to refinement for over 100 years now, and its efficiency in commercial vehicles has improved to over 40 %. Our company too has shared in this development and indeed had a major influence on it. The new D20 Common Rail engine generation which we are presenting today for MAN trucks and buses with gross weights over 16 tonnes will once again set standards with regard to specific output, power-to-weight ratio, fuel consumption and life-cycle costs.

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