The timeline with the most important technological achievements:
1936 - Start of production of Bosch systems for passenger cars. This year, Mercedes-Benz presented
its first diesel model under the hood of the 260D at the Berlin Motor Show, it was also the world's
first mass-produced diesel car. In the first years, customers were sceptical about this solution,
because the Mercedes unit was neither quiet nor very dynamic.
1960 - The first distribution pump - mechanical (type VM). The device used for hydraulic fuel
injection in a compression-ignition engine is a centrifugal pump, inside which a cylinder and pistons
is feeding the fuel dose. It was a lighter and more compact solution than the in-line pumps used
before, thanks to which diesel could settle in small passenger cars.
1975 - Distributor pump - mechanical (type VE). This type of pump is not sensitive to changes in fuel
temperature and viscosity due to the use of a mechanical regulator. As a result, additional units can
be used to control the fuel dose depending on the boost pressure and temperature.
1986 – EDC electronic diesel engine controller for the distribution pump. The mid-1980s saw the
introduction of electronics to diesel engines, this innovation was introduced by Bosch.
1987 - The EDC controller was used in the BMW 524. The Bavarian brand was one of the first to use
this solution in a passenger car. At that time, the car offered a lot of driving pleasure and was the
fastest passenger car with a diesel under the hood.
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1989 – VE EDC type VP37 distributor pump for direct injection systems in passenger cars. This
solution revolutionized the concept of the diesel engine. The first car with it was the Audi 100 TDI.
The new technology allowed fuel to be injected at a very high pressure of 1,000 bar at the time,
directly into the cylinders, which ensured high combustion efficiency.
1996 – VP44 radial piston distributor pump.
1997 – Commencement of serial production of the high-pressure pump and injectors of the
Common Rail system. Injection pressure up to 1350 bar. The latter solution turned out to be the
leading technology in the late 1990s. One year after the introduction of the system, Bosch
celebrated the production of its one-millionth unit.
1998 – Unit Injector (unit injectors) for passenger cars. This technology was used, for example, in the
Volkswagen 1.9 TDI 4-cylinder engine and the 1.2 TDI 3-cylinder engine. Paul Pietsch Award to Bosch
and Fiat for the Common Rail system recognized as a breakthrough technical innovation.
1999 – Production anniversary: One million common rail systems from Bosch were produced.
2001 – The second generation of Common Rail systems for passenger cars. It is characterized by an
injection pressure of 1600 bar and multi-phase injection (up to 7 phases, but most often there are 5
of them). This is the most widely used generation of the product today.
2002 – Production anniversary: 10 million Bosch Common Rail systems produced.
2003 – The third generation of the Common Rail injection system for passenger cars. It is
characterized by Inline piezo injectors and an injection pressure of up to 1800 bar. Compared to the
previous generation, the new solution reduces fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, and operating
noise.
2005 - Bosch received the German Future Award, a distinction for introducing innovative technical
solutions to the market) for the development of piezoelectric injectors for diesel injection systems.
Piezoelectric, direct activation of the valve needle eliminates not only the inertia of the
electromagnet but also the hydraulic circuit cooperating with it, which additionally delays the
operation of the injector.
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2006 – In Western Europe, diesel cars exceeded 50% of the market share. The diesel Audi R10 TDI
with Bosch fuel injection technology won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi also won in 2007, 2008, and
2010.
2007 – Bosch developed the first injection system with injection pressures of up to 2,000 bar.
2008 – Secondary exhaust gas treatment system in a passenger car with a Bosch Denoxtronic diesel
engine. Award of the Oko-Glebe environment in the "innovation of equipment manufacturers"
category. A strategic partnership agreement for the development of diesel hybrid technology is
concluded between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Robert Bosch GmbH.
2009 – Production anniversary: 50 million Bosch Common Rail systems produced. 5 years before the
introduction of the Euro VI emission standard (planned introduction in 2014 for heavy motor
vehicles, the permissible value of nitrogen oxide emissions is 400 mg/kWh), the first cars that meet
the given standards are produced.
2011 – Launch of serial production of the first hybrid diesel drive in PSA Peugeot Citroen, created in
cooperation with Bosch. Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4.
5.2 Advantages of using Diesel engines compared to petrol engines
In diesel cylinders, the air is compressed at a pressure of up to 50 bar, as a result of which the air
temperature increases to 900 degrees Celsius. At the same time, diesel fuel for diesel engines is
sprayed into the combustion chamber in front of the top dead centre of the piston, and after the
evaporation of small drops of liquid, a combusted fuel-air mixture is formed.
Compared to a gasoline engine, combustion in a diesel engine is much more efficient. The coupling
coefficient in a diesel engine is 20 units, while in a gasoline engine, it is only 10 units. On average,
fuel consumption is also reduced by 20% and diesel engine efficiency is increased by 40%.
In addition, the fuel used in diesel evaporates more slowly, which reduces the risk of self-ignition.
Also, diesel engines do not use spark plugs but glow plugs. These operate on a principle similar to a
heater and heat the combustion chamber through the current from the battery. Diesel engines are
also less powerful than petrol engines. As the mixture burns at high pressure, they produce more
noise and vibration.
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Advantages of using Diesel engines:
• Lower fuel consumption,
• Often higher reliability,
• Easier work in wet conditions,
• Low probability of self-ignition,