Fuel saving technologies: Part 2

 

 

Slideshow

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The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe is an early example of direct fuel injection.

© photo courtesy of: Daimler AG

In Part 1 of this series we dealt with the type of technologies that you will see advertised on TV from manufacturers like AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
8213 photos
27 videos
and BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
8471 photos
43 videos
…in fact, even companies like PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
4639 photos
29 videos
now employ stop/start technology as a matter of course. Now we’ll deal with some of those technologies that have changed the world of cars forever…and in an even more obvious way.

Direct injection

Direct injection is hardly a new thing…it’s been around on petrol engines since 1902 but, and some might say strangely, it didn’t start appearing in motor vehicles – on a regular basis – until the late 1990’s and earlier this century. That said, it has been widespread in the aircraft industry for almost the entirety of the 20th century, especially in Germany and the Soviet Union.

That said, it is worth pointing out that while it is clear that while the system has become prevalent only in the last 20 years it has been used in the past. Perhaps the best example of its use is in the Mercedes 300SL GullwingMercedes-Benz 300 SLGermany, 1955 > 19894 versions
65 photos
which used Bosch injectors.

Perhaps the best illustration, though, of direct injection’s influence on today’s car market is the way that it is advertised. ‘Direct injection’ sounds very geeky doesn’t it? How about FSI? Yup, that ‘FSI’ technology that Audi keep on banging on about…it’s only direct injection!

Electric/Hybrid cars

The electric/hybrid debate is an interesting one isn’t it? But it isn’t actually as new as you’d be led to believe. Electric cars have been around for a long time – they were actually quite prevalent in the 1890’s but now they’re coming back in again.

One of the immediate questions is whether they are actually any good for the environment? Certainly at the ‘tailpipe’ they’re pretty good – as the Co2 emissions will testify. But equally important is the production, transportation and disposal of battery packs, and for the pure electric models the environmental cost of producing electricity from big, dirty coal fired power stations.

That said, there is the TeslaTeslaUnited States of America, 2003 > present4 models
206 photos
and FiskerFiskerUnited States of America, 2007 > present5 models
117 photos
2 videos
’s offerings to keep us happy. The Tesla in particular has a chassis from a Lotus EliseLotus EliseUnited Kingdom, 1996 > present3 series
27 versions
81 photos
1 video
so it is plenty of fun and the Fisker models are lovely to look at and not too badly built either.

Turbochargers

The old BMW M5BMW M5Germany, 2010 > present12 photos
had a 5.0 litre V10, the old Mercedes CLS63Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMGGermany, 2006 > present3 photos
had a 6.2 litre V8 and the old Audi RS4Audi RS4Germany, 2006 > 20081 photo
had a 4.2 litre V8. The link? They were all naturally aspirated and high revving. Now each of these has forced induction. Of course that helps the torque figures, but its real function is to reduce Co2 emissions and that is the main ‘driver’ for today’s EU policy driven manufacturers.

Unfortunately forced induction makes a lot of these cars a little less pure…which is a bit sad for people like me. But we have to accept that Mercedes’ magnificent 6208cc V8 may never be reproduced. Engines will get smaller and turbochargers will get cleverer and there’ll be less ‘lag’ to boot, and I better get used to it.

Overall…what do we think then? It is obvious that direct injection is here to stay, as are turbochargers, but what about electric power? Some advocates of the technology think that we will only be driving electric cars in years to come. But, to me, as I listen to a V8 rumbling past my window that all seems a bit boring doesn’t it?