Electronic Fuel Injection Turns 40, Remains Vital Technology For Vehicle Performance

BROADVIEW, Ill., Oct. 2, 2007 -- It's turning 40 this year, yet electronic fuel injection continues to be a viable technology extremely beneficial to our everyday driving experience. That's hardly surprising, as it plays such a pivotal role in determining the smooth driving and performance most of us take for granted in our cars, vans or SUVs.

"Every driver of a modern automobile today enjoys the results of the wealth of experience gained in four decades of the development of electronic gasoline injection systems as we see today," said Warren Suter, Director, Engine Management Systems for Bosch.

The world's largest supplier of automotive parts and systems, Robert Bosch LLC invented the first electronically controlled fuel injection system and used it for the first time on the Volkswagen in 1967. (http://www.boschautoparts.com/)

Since then, Bosch has continued to refine this technology. Consequently, the original Jetronic fuel injection system progressed through the K-Jetronic, Mono-Jetronic and Motronic -- each of which used more electronic and less mechanical control.

"The key benefit of the original system and its successors has been to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while improving gasoline engine performance and vehicle drivability," said Suter.

With gasoline direct injection (GDI), the latest and most advanced fuel injection system just becoming available, initial acceleration is faster, maximum torque and power are available even at low speeds, and fuel economy is increased by up to 15 percent.

Currently, Bosch supplies nearly 10,000 replacement parts for gasoline fuel injection systems and offers the broadest line of injection-related replacement parts in the aftermarket. These include electronic fuel injectors, fuel injection control units, oxygen sensors, engine control sensors and ignition coils.

Based on recent technological developments, Bosch launched its 'second generation' gasoline fuel injectors (EV6) for new domestic and imported vehicles. Fuel injectors with this cutting-edge technology are also available as an upgrade for many popular older cars on the road.

According to Suter, the second generation fuel injectors (EV6) are more precise and durable, and when combined with today's sophisticated engine management system, provide far more finely controlled fuel metering -- all of which ultimately leads to better vehicle performance, improved fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions.