The diesel principle of self-ignition is the most efficient way of converting fuel into mechanical energy. MAN Diesel & Turbo has continued perfecting this technology – since it was first developed in 1893-1897 on the site of our Augsburg plant by Rudolf Diesel – and has steadily improved its efficiency advantage over other propulsion technologies. The diesel engine’s pole position in terms of fuel economy is not set to change at any time in the foreseeable future.
 
Nevertheless, our engineers are constantly working on improving the already extremely high efficiency – in other words the high “exploitation rate” of the energy contained in fuel – of MAN Diesel & Turbo engines. Fuel savings not only make transporting goods cheaper, but also lead to dramatically reduced CO2 emissions. The degree of efficiency of a diesel engine and its CO2 emissions are directly related to each other.
 
MAN Diesel & Turbo offers its customers a range of solutions that significantly reduce fuel consumption and thus also the volume of greenhouse gases produced. These include the optimisation of fuel injection with common-rail technology or an increase in combustion efficiency thanks to sophisticated turbocharger technology.
 
Improvements inside the engine, however, do more than just boost efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. They also help to reduce nitric oxides to a minimum. However, because this represents a classical conflict of interests – at high combustion temperatures, although the efficiency rises, so unfortunately do nitric oxide emissions – the aim is to create a compromise that is best for the environment through a harmonious overall package of measures.