Contribution of Powertrain Concepts to Reach Ambitious Climate Targets

Authors

Dr. Rolf Bulander, Member of the Board of Management, Chairman Business Sector Mobility Solutions, Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart

Year

2017

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Series 12, No 802

Summary

The CO₂ targets deducted from the Paris Agreement require a significant reduction of CO₂ emissions, also in road transport. Thus, different powertrain concepts need to be employed, containing a further improvement of the combustion engine, both gasoline and diesel, as well as electrified powertrains, also used in hybrid, and, in the long run, spreading the fuel cell. In the short term, synthetic fuels offer potential for CO₂ reduction. Ways of achieving global CO₂ targets are only one aspect, however. On a local level, the focus is on immissions from particulate matter and NO_x. The task for the combustion engine is clear: maximize efficiency, and reduce emissions at the same time. Gasoline engines have to reach the PM10 limit under RDE conditions. The approach is a dual one: engine measures are necessary to significantly reduce raw emissions and are combined with a gasoline particulate filter. Diesel, on the other hand, focuses on fulfilling the NO_x limits under RDE. During test drives, using an experimental vehicle equipped with combinations of exhaust-gas treatment systems, operated in conjunction with a smart warm-up management system, emission values of less than 80 mg/km could be reached on a Stuttgart urban track. The key to defusing local immission hotspots, therefore, is to (over)achieve the targets of Euro 6 RDE applications and to make these technologies commonplace in the fleet as quickly as possible.