What’s Next?

AutoCar (Oct. ’08) takes a sneak preview of some high technology components that are coming soon to India from Bosch.

While Bosch has concentrated heavily on localising common-rail diesel systems for use in India in the past, the coming years will see them branch out into low cost common rail systems, direct-injection petrol, anti-lock brakes and hybrid systems.

Taking up the challenge of one and two cylinder diesel engines, Bosch will provide low-cost common rail systems for low priced cars like the Tata Nano as well as CRDi systems for single-cylinder auto-rickshaws. The system is designed for engines that range between 700 and 820cc and will be able to put out between 24 and 46bhp, with torque upto 9kgm possible. Bosch will also be helping Indian manufacturers export their diesel cars by meeting international emission norms. The company is already working on De Nox systems (catalysts that convert harmful nitrogen oxides to harmless oxygen) for India.

Along with direct fuel injections another advancement that could be introduced in India are high pressure magnetically-controlled Piezo injectors that can spray multiple patterns via seven individual jets. Explains AutoCar (Oct. ’08), “Though the pressure in the system is a mere 200 bar compared to 1400-1600 bar needed in a direct-injection diesel, this innovative system has a very promising future.”

Next on the cards is localising and cost-cutting anti-lock brake systems. So in the future it could cost you less than Rs.10, 000 to equip your car with ABS. Mild hybrids will also be launched in the near future. The system will automatically stop the engine and start it again as one moves off. The Mahindra Scorpio will soon be the first Indian vehicle to feature such a system.