Electric cars Made in China they have been at the center of the concerns of Western manufacturers and governments for months now, committed to curbing the now unattainable competitiveness of Chinese companies at any cost.
But the countless research and development departments scattered across Xi Jinping’s country are not limited to working on electric motors: last April 20, in Tianjin, Weichai Power presented the most efficient diesel engine ever made. An extraordinary innovation that involves not only cars, but also agricultural vehicles, boats and energy generators.
The most efficient diesel engine ever made
Last April 20th was inaugurated a Tianjin the World Congress on Internal Combustion Engines, chaired by the president of the China Association for Science and Technology Wan Gang and key figures from the government and academia.
The nearly 2,000 guests who reached Tianjin from all over the world witnessed a moment that they did not hesitate to define as historic: Weichai Powera Chinese state-owned company specializing in engine research and development, presented the most efficient diesel engine ever made.
Weichai’s new diesel engine achieved a thermal efficiency of 53.09%, pulverizing i previous records of the company, which had already outpaced European and American manufacturers – stuck at an efficiency of 46-48% – exceeding 50% efficiency in 2020.
In 2022, the Weichai diesel engine already had a certified efficiency of 51.09%, and in the same year the then world record was reached, a resounding 52.28% certified by TÜV SÜD and the China Automotive Research and Technology Center . With constant increases in the order of 0.1%, the Chinese company has managed to once again beat its unattainable record. The latest test, dating back to November 2023, certified an efficiency of 53.09%.
“A result that belongs to the entire global industry”
According to Weichai’s assessments, the implementation of the new diesel engine could lead to a 14% energy saving and a significant reduction in carbon emissions, when compared with classic diesel engines (which have an efficiency of 45-46%). This will further the implementation of China’s “peak carbon and neutrality” goals, and lead China’s equipment manufacturing industry to another world record.
As underlined by the Chinese company, the achievement of this historic result is the fruit of more 4,000 days and nights of work, during which Weichai engineers gathered their knowledge into one open cooperation with universities and research centers from all over the world, also making use of the fruitful collaboration of the global supply chain (not only in the automotive sector, but also in the naval industry and in the agricultural and energy sectors).
There Chinese competitiveness which so frightens the West, which is less and less interested in financing production and research to concentrate on super salaries and dividends to be distributed to shareholders, is the result of an attitude light years away from what we see in Europe.
Traditionally collaborative and supported by a economic planning unthinkable for European governments, the Chinese approach proves to be successful once again: diesel engines, explains Weichai, have been fundamental for global development, and still have many years of success ahead of them. “This achievement does not belong only to Weichai“, we read in a company note, “but at theentire global industry” – at least to the one that will be able to welcome innovation with a “Chinese approach”.
