BMW is likely to be the first company that adopts the technology for its new models.
BMW unveiled the track-oriented M4GTS in October 2013. It features Bosch’s first water injector system. The coupe’s 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six cylinder engine produces 500 horsepower (368kilowatts) as well as 442 pound-feet (642 Newton meters) of torque.
The system will soon be available for non-high performance models as well, as Fabiana Piazza, Bosch global project manager, has confirmed to Autocar. He stated that the system is being launched into the market because of tighter regulations and new real driving emission tests.
According to the company, even though the system was initially designed for track-focused vehicles, it is now designed to increase fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions. Piazza says that water injection works best for cars producing 107 horsepower (80 kW) per liter.
The 2019 mass production system will almost mirror the M4 GTS. The system works by injecting a vaporized solution of distilled water into an engine’s intake before it starts burning fuel. Bosch claims that the process can improve fuel efficiency by up to 13 percent and reduce CO2 emissions by 4 percent.
It uses very little water. For example, the M4 GTS’s five-liter tank is kept in the boot. Bosch explained that the volume of water used will vary depending on the engine and car, but customers will need to fill the tank approximately every 1,800 miles (2.896 kilometers). The engine will still work smoothly if the tank is empty, but it will have a slightly lower power and efficiency.
Mercedes-Benz claims it is impossible to incorporate the technology in a production vehicle. However, Martin Frohnmaier (the project’s leader) explains that the costs of the system will drop and it will be easier for companies to integrate it. He explained that it’s quite normal to have a pilot customer in order to develop the system before launching it to the market. “As we launch to a wider market, the system’s cost will drop as more people use it.”
BMW, a pioneer in water injection technologies and co-developer, is most likely to be the first brand that introduces the system into other models than the M4 GTS.
