August 1, 2012: R Baskaran, Head of diesel R&D, Bosch Ltd.

What are your focus areas at Bosch Ltd?
As the R&D head, my responsibilities include the developing of cost-effective solutions locally for the Indian market, customising existent technology and solutions for the Indian market (common-rail systems (CRS) for low price vehicles, BS III / Trem3A solutions with mechanical systems for commercial vehicles and tractors respectively), development of technical competencies and finally, retention of talent in the division.

Diesel is an important fuel in the Indian context. How does Bosch cater to this market?
Bosch Group India has developed diesel injection solutions for practically each segment of the automotive industry, namely:??Low-price vehicles sub-one-tonne vehicles with PF-pump-based CRS for load carrier and passenger applications.??M&HCVs with Valueline CB-pump-based CRS and mechanical systems for trucks, trailers and bus applications.??Off-highway vehicles with mechanical systems for tractors, construction equipment and genset applications.??Passenger cars with cost-efficient inlet fuel metered, high pressure-controlled CRS.Bosch’s diesel injection offerings range from basic conventional/mechanical injection pumps that are BS III compliant to high-end common rail for two-, three-, four- and six-cylinder engines

India’s diesel market plays a major role in transport, particularly for trucks, buses and LCVs? What products does Bosch have for this sector?
Bosch has been a pioneer in two-cylinder common-rail technology for the low-priced segment (LPV); we have offered Valueline systems (the Bosch CB18 pump-based CRS) for LCVs and medium-duty CVs. This is also an area in which emission norms and fuel efficiency play a key role.

How do Bosch products help customers of these products to be more eco-friendly and achieve the relevant emission norms?
Bosch has been a pioneer in introducing common-rail technology for smaller vehicles, thereby making them more fuel efficient and therefore greener with PF-pump-based CRS for load carrier and passenger applications. By extending the common-rail system technology for two-cylinder engines, Bosch has made small diesel vehicles in the LPV segment a reality. Having established competencies in India, Bosch is able to offer cost-effective solutions locally.

What are the kinds of technologies that Bosch has for similar-sized engine capacities for diesel?
Bosch offers its common-rail injection system for small diesel engines. Several LCVs deploy this technology from Bosch including the Mahindra Maxximo, among others.

What diesel R&D does India do that feeds into the research Bosch does worldwide, more so Asia?
India has the largest development centre outside Bosch Group in Germany. The Indian arm is a global development centre for many products which are being used worldwide. Bosch India was also involved in developing components such as the PF pump for CRS applications of export markets, Euro 5 and 6 commercial vehicle systems.

What are the trends that we are likely to see in terms of improving fuel efficiencies in diesel technology?
I see the CRS technology becoming more refined with higher injection pressure, improved injectionaccuracy / control. Finally, in combination with air management and exhaust gas treatment devices, enhancing the diesel technology needs of the future.