VW to start fitting GPF in 2017

As the Volkswagen Group continues to wash its face in the context of emissions, from 2017, all Group direct injection TSI and TFSI engines will be fitted step-by-step with GPF – gasoline particulate filters.

Volkswagen adds that “emissions of fine soot particles will be reduced in this way by up to 90 per cent.”

Volkswagen says it is “continuing to work assiduously on the environmental compatibility of conventional drive systems. The company has now decided upon wide-scale use of particulate filters for petrol engines, so-called gasoline particulate filters (GPF).

By 2022, the number of Volkswagen Group vehicles equipped with this technology annually could reach seven million. The process begins in June 2017 with the 1.4-litre TSI engine in the new Volkswagen Tiguan and the 2.0 TFSI in the Audi A5. Implementation will then follow in further models and engine generations.

Particulate filters for diesel engines are already proven and established. The gasoline particulate filter will now reduce the particulate emissions of direct injection petrol engines by up to 90 per cent.

Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, head of group research and development, notes "Following increases in efficiency and lower CO₂ output, we are now bringing about a sustained reduction in the emission levels of our modern petrol engines by fitting particulate filters as standard."

Despite the outlay for complex exhaust gas treatment systems for new models, Volkswagen is determined to reduce its diesel vehicles' pollutant emissions as well.

Dr. Eichhorn adds: "In the future, all models will be equipped with the latest and most efficient SCR catalytic converter technology."

Using comparative measurements, independent testing bodies have established that both modern EU 6 diesel engines and petrol engines from the Volkswagen Group are already the cleanest on the market. In its EQUA Air Quality Index, for example, London-based Emission Analytics looked at the world's 440 most popular models and ranked the Volkswagen Group as the top performer by some margin.

The company says it ranked first in three categories: EU 6 petrol engine, EU 5 petrol engine and EU 6 hybrid vehicles. The best six EU 6 diesel vehicles also come from Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda; among the EU 5 diesels tested, a total of five models in the top 10, including the top two from Audi and Skoda, are also from the Volkswagen Group.
In the context of GPF, it is perhaps worth noting that in Europe GDI engine technology has continued to gain market share, thanks to the efforts of VW and others, within the segment of spark-ignition powered vehicles.

Generally, speaking, GDI leads to better fuel economy and a further reduction in CO2 emissions compared to fuel port injection engines. GDI engines also show significantly higher PM and PN emissions while compared to fuel port injection engines.

The aspect driving VW in the new GPF direction is none other than the EU6c emissions regulation due in 2017 when new particulate number emissions will be introduced for all spark-ignition engines.

Added to which, more challenging test methods are currently being discussed with regards to the current NEDC drive cycle, in particular RDE. VW emissions engineers with the current NEDC drive cycle will be aware of what’s on the skyline and the measures they need to take to address matters – with GPF being one of them.

Finally, it is well known that particulate filter technologies have been introduced successfully as a robust means to reduce PM and PN emissions from diesel engines, and so similar technologies can be applied as an alternative or to supplement improved combustion recipes for GDI-powered vehicles