Something big happened in 1997. The first car with a common rail fuel injection system was sold. It was a diesel Alfa Romeo 156, and a Mercedes followed a few months later. Americans hadn’t seen it, but success was immediate in Europe, and beyond all the most optimistic forecasts. Direct fuel injection via a high pressure common rail made diesels more powerful, smoother to run, more fuel-efficient and cleaner. The technology didn’t exist before 1997 (well, it had been in the lab for many years) but it conquered the world in barely a few years. Bosch built 9 millions of them last year! And it isn’t the only one making those. But Bosch is the largest auto supplier in the world, the company already built 75 million common rail fuel injection systems.

It could build more than 10 millions next year, as the technology is getting better and better. Maximum injection pressure was 19845 psi (1350 bar) on first generation common rails, that has been increased to 32340 psi (2200 bar) on latest systems with piezoelectric injectors. That sounds incredible, but Bosch is already working on systems with even higher pressure: 36750 psi and above (2500 bar). This will help making the combustion process even sharper, for more power and efficiency, and less toxic emissions. With a common rail, diesel is not afraid of stringent emission tests. Actually, the technology proved so good that gas engines are beginning to adopt it too. Maybe all cars with an ICE will get a common rail direct fuel injection someday. Bosch is certainly wishing that…