Ao Wei, the diesel engine made by FAW Jiefang Automotive Co Ltd Wuxi Diesel Engine Works, is the first diesel engine of heavy vehicles in China. [Photo/wxdew.com]

"Wuxi is the birthplace of China's internal combustion engines, especially the diesel engines," said He Guangyuan, minister of the former Ministry of Machine Building Industry as he reflected positively on Wuxi's development of internal combustion engine technology.

Over the past one hundred years, the internal combustion engine industry has developed steadily, producing engines using petrol, diesel, natural gas and hybrid fuel mixtures.

Wuxi is home to many of the well-known manufacturers of high-pressure diesel engines, turbochargers, exhaust gas after-treatment systems and advanced internal combustion engine products, including FAW Jiefang Automotive Co Ltd Wuxi Diesel Engine Works (FAWDE), Kailong High Technology Co and Honeywell International Inc.

Wuxi's diesel engine companies, represented by FAWDE, have kept their dominant role in the market thanks to their cutting-edge technologies and quality products. With stricter vehicle exhaust emission regulations, these companies have been focusing on the research and development of diesel engine technologies, establishing advanced R&D system and improving their independent-research technologies.

Manufacturing enterprises, with Weifu Group as a leader, also have maintained leading status in fuel stratified injection technology such as the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and diesel particulate filter (DPF) system, while developing advanced post-processing products. They offer strong technological support to vehicle exhaust emission policies.

"The new energy vehicle sector is a development trend for environmental protection. However, it does not mean an overall reduction in emissions. Equal attention must be paid to the production and recycling of lithium batteries," said He.

In addition, He suggested using methanol as fuel, which can cut the usage of diesel by half and greatly lower the emissions of nitrogen oxides.

The first World Internal Combustion Engine Congress will be held in Wuxi, Jiangsu province from Nov 8 to 11. More than 600 groups and 1,000 individuals, including the world's top experts and scholars, academicians and entrepreneurs have decided to take part in it.