Less Pollution, More Power: Mercedes to Debut Cleaner Diesel Engine in New E-Class
Set for release in the coming spring, the Mercedes E-Class 220 d will be the very first model to house the company’s revolutionary OM 654 diesel engine. At 2.0 liters, the brand new four-cylinder engine is considerably leaner and greener than the original 2.15, boasting a 13% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The new engine is also ramping up the power stakes, offering 195 hp compared to the original 170. The OM 654’s debut signals the start of a new era in all-aluminum engines, which will shape the brand’s future car and van models, securing Mercedes its place in an increasingly eco-conscious market.
While the new engine still makes use of AdBlue (aqueous urea solution used to reduce nitrous oxides) and a particulate filter, what’s especially unique to the OM 654 is that it integrates all aspects of exhaust treatment directly into the engine itself. The innovative design makes use of a multiway exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, which combines both high- and low-pressure EGR to significantly reduce the level of untreated emissions. Exhaust gas from the turbocharger passes through a diesel oxidation catalyst before making its way along the downdraft mixer, where AdBlue solution is added. The gas is then evenly distributed on the surface of the downstream sDPF, a particulate filter with a specialized coating to reduce nitrogen oxides. Finally, an SCR catalyst located behind the filter ensures further reduction of nitrogen oxides before the gas can enter into the exhaust system.
As standards regarding CO2 emissions become increasingly tighter and the market for hybrid and electric vehicles picks up speed, the survival of the diesel engine depends on its ability to adapt. While individual road users have a certain responsibility to maintain and replace their vehicles’ exhaust components–which are thankfully easily found online–for optimum eco-friendliness, expectations undoubtedly rest heavily on manufacturers to build cars and engines that are conducive to a greener future. This is exactly what Mercedes has done with the OM 654, as pointed out by head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development Prof Dr. Thomas Weber, who states that the engine has been “designed to meet all future global emissions standards.”
The EU has been developing its legislation to more accurately measure “real world” emissions, having implemented new test procedures in January this year, which assess vehicles on the road rather than in a lab. By developing a greener engine, Mercedes is ensuring that its popular diesel models move with the times and are just as relevant in the evolving landscape as its hybrid and electric counterparts. More design and build features of the upcoming E-Class can be seen here.
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