Weichai Power breaks ground on efficiency
Chinese powertrain manufacturer Weichai Power has launched the world’s first diesel engine with a thermal efficiency rating of 51.09 percent, marking the latest in a long line of achievements it has made in developing engines as well as green energy products.
The record thermal efficiency is of great significance to environmental protection and sustainable development, as a higher thermal efficiency represents lower fuel consumption.
With China having set the strategic goal of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, the internal combustion engine industry is expected to play an important role in the process.
Weichai released the world’s first commercial diesel engine with a base engine thermal efficiency of 50.23 percent in September 2020, establishing a new benchmark for the industry.
Just 480 days later, the company hit a new world record that increased the base thermal efficiency to 51.09 percent, further consolidating China’s position in the global internal combustion engine industry.
German test authority TUV SUD issued a certificate for the engine on the day it was released, recognizing Weichai Power’s latest achievement.
Weichai said the new diesel engine provides technical preparation for the stricter national VII emission standard and will be of great significance to promoting the energy-efficient and green development of China’s traditional internal combustion engine industry.
It is estimated that products with a thermal efficiency of 51 percent can reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent compared with those with a thermal efficiency of 46 percent. It can substantially reduce fuel consumption, reduce costs and cut carbon dioxide emissions, according to the company.
With mass use of the technology in the industry, it is expected to generate huge economic and social benefits.
In addition to boosting the innovative and low-carbon development of conventional internal combustion engines, Weichai has also made great efforts to support the development of new energy products.
On Jan 8, Chinese heavy-duty truck manufacturer Sinotruk delivered its first batch of hydrogenpowered heavy-duty tractor trucks to the Port of Shandong, which is equipped with Weichai’s high-power-output hydrogen fuel cell systems.
With the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Shandong province, Weichai took the lead in building the National Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Center last year, and participated in national and Shandong province’s hydrogen technology demonstration projects.
Weichai has partnered with other companies, universities and research institutions, and successfully developed the 15 to 200-kilowatt series of hydrogen fuel cell systems. Among them, the 200 kW fuel cell system was selected to be exhibited at a national exhibition of science and technology achievements made during the 13th FiveYear Plan (2016-20) in October.
In addition, the company launched an environmental adaptability test for fuel cell vehicles and successfully started vehicles at temperatures of minus 34 C.
Based on its fuel cell products,
Weichai has launched a demonstrative program for multiscenario applications to accelerate the development of key hydrogen energy technologies.
The company’s first high-poweroutput container hydrogen fuel cell heating and power generation system and 30kW solid oxide fuel cell heating and power system, both firsts of their kind in China, have
been put into operation in Weifang, Shandong province.
China’s first 80-seat hydrogen fuel cell passenger ship with zero carbon emissions developed by the company has been tested in Jinan, Shandong province.
More products powered by Weichai’s powertrain systems have been developed, including a 49-ton fuel cell heavy-duty truck that can run
more than 5,000 kilometers on a single charge, and a Sinotruk skiwaxing truck with a Weichai 162-kW hydrogen fuel cell system that will be used during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
Tan Xuguang, president of Weichai Power, said the development of internal combustion engines with continuous rises in thermal efficiency and mass applications of new
energy resources in products are the two crucial driving forces for Weichai, and have kept the company ahead in the development of highperformance conventional engines and new energy engines.
The moves have also opened a new path for diversified energy transformation under the national strategy of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, Tan said.