The Volkswagen Group has announced the wide-scale use of particulate filters for petrol engines, or ‘gasoline particulate filters (GPF)’. From 2017, all of the the group’s direct injection TSI and TFSI engines will be fitted step-by-step with petrol particulate filters. Emissions of fine soot particles will be reduced in this way by up to 90%.
By 2022, the number of Volkswagen Group vehicles being equipped with this technology annually could reach seven million. The process is starting 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%.
“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,” said Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, head of group research and development. “In the future, all models will be equipped with the latest and most efficient SCR catalytic converter technology.”