Siemens Piezo Makes Passenger Car Diesel Viable In U.S. Market

    DETROIT, March 6 It may have been born an ink injector for
high-resolution color printers, but Siemens Automotive has taken its parent
company's innovation and once again applied it to the automotive industry.

    The Siemens Automotive Piezohydraulic diesel fuel injector, which is based
on highly precise injection technology developed for ink jet printers, enables
minimal quantities of fuel to be metered with extreme accuracy and the start
of injection to be determined with even greater precision and at multiple
times during each engine stroke.

    The result is a diesel engine with fuel combustion nearly as quiet as a
conventional gasoline engine, more pulling power at the lower end of the speed
range and decreased fuel consumption and pollution.

    "The issue of fuel economy has become increasingly more important in the
American market.  Our customers are focusing on options for increased fuel
efficiency without sacrificing horsepower and performance," said Kregg
Wiggins, Siemens Automotive Vice President of Powertrain Systems - North
America.  "Governmental, legislative and action groups are pushing for more
stringent emissions and fuel efficiency.  For example, the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) recently has offered new diesel technology, which
utilizes dramatically cleaner ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, as a choice to
meet clean air goals for buses.  With the industry moving in this direction,
clean diesel technology emerges as the clear solution and the Siemens
Automotive proven diesel products are designed to help reach these goals."

    Through the advent of second generation Piezo common rail diesel
technology, Siemens has been catapulted to a leadership position in the
European diesel market, which accounted for approximately 32 percent of the
passenger car market last year.  The Siemens second-generation common rail
currently is in production and is expected to reach high volume in 2002.

    The Piezohydraulic injector is four times faster than traditional solenoid
injectors, responding to each voltage pulse within 0.1 milliseconds.

    The injector technology is combined with Siemens Automotive's common rail
delivery system, which pressurizes the fuel to 1500 bars and is then injected
into the cylinder in precise amounts -- up to three times during a single
power cycle.  Operating as a complete electronic modular unit, this diesel
system represents a solution that guarantees maximum flexibility to the
automotive industry, both in engine development and compliance with future
exhaust-emission standards.

    "Diesel fuel has more energy than gasoline, providing an inherent
increased fuel efficiency in diesel engines of 30 percent over gasoline
engines," said Wiggins.  "In addition, diesel engines require less
maintenance."