Commercial Vehicle Engines: Ready for 2020

Vehicle and Engine Optimizations for Future Commercial Vehicles

12. July 2016 | Engineering Service

Emissions legislation, CO2 thresholds for the reduction of fuel consumption, reduced operating costs, and modular engine families for different markets and applications – these are the four most important factors influencing the continuous development of commercial vehicle concepts and engines. While the emissions thresholds are likely to be tightened only marginally in the future, CO2 reduction is increasingly becoming the focus of regulation and development.

Emission and fuel consumption

Engine measures to reach emission and fuel consumption legislation

Various Approaches

In Europe, a CO2 reduction of approximately 20% is currently being discussed for the year 2020, compared to model year 2012. In the US, where CO2 legislation has already been introduced, there is discussion about a further reduction of CO2 emissions ranging between 9% and 23% compared to the model year 2010. All of the measures for complying with these thresholds must also realize the goal of minimizing operating costs. Studies and practical development projects at FEV have shown that, through vehicle optimization – including drive efficiency, hybridization, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and predictive drivetrain control – fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 15%. Depending on the starting situation, through various engine measures, fuel consumption can be further reduced by up to 11%. These measures include, for instance, downspeeding, reduction of engine friction, waste heat recovery, increased peak cylinder pressure, and injection pressure. Improvements in the engine and aftertreatment control concepts, as well as the use of new catalyst materials, can also have a positive impact on fuel consumption.

Targeted Interaction

In the future, among other things, the electrification of the drive train will be implemented more intensively in commercial vehicles as well,” states Dr. Martin Müther, Director Engine and Vehicle Application Commercial Engines. “The interaction of all these measures in every single development step must also be taken into account. For instance, the integration of a waste heat recovery system can have a considerable influence on the efficiency of the exhaust aftertreatment.”

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