Water injection is a tech that’s used on the BMW M4 GTS and going by the reports lately, it sure looks like the application will move to the mass market in 2019.
We’ll start off with how this technology works. It basically squirts water at a high pressure into the cylinder with the intention of reducing the combustion temperature, and in the process increases fuel efficiency. Water injection helps the BMW M4 GTS make five per cent more power (49bhp), while being 13 per cent more efficient. With temperatures in control, the risks involved with engine reliability are ruled out to an extent.
Reports claim that Bosch worked with BMW to develop this technology, and is now pursuing other car makers to make use of it. Bosch optimistically expects the water injection tech to go into mass production sometime in 2019. There are a few teething issues like keeping water from freezing under colder climatic conditions, however, Bosch is reportedly working on getting these problems sorted.
Everybody involved in building a performance motor knows the concerns tagged to engine heat. Bosch, having pioneered this tech, has actually made a huge breakthrough by mobilising this tech. With a lot more engines using this feature, it goes without saying that performance, efficiency and reliability are only going to soar to new heights. The only irony will be that it came so late in the internal combustion (IC) engine’s shelf life, especially when you factor the upcoming electric revolution.
