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　British MAHLE Powertrain announced on June 28, 2022 that it is proceeding with a project to replace the fuel used in heavy machinery engines from diesel with ammonia. We aim to develop technologies that use zero-carbon or low-carbon fuels in areas such as mining, mining, and construction. By developing a method that can be used as an alternative fuel to existing heavy equipment engines without major modifications, we will support the decarbonization efforts of industries that use heavy equipment.

"MAHLE Jet Ignition" that burns ammonia fuel at high speed instead of diesel
"MAHLE Jet Ignition" that burns ammonia fuel at high speed instead of diesel
(Photo: MAHLE Powertrain)
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　Heavy machinery and construction machinery consume a large amount of energy and are often used in environments away from power grids, making it difficult to electrify them. Therefore, searching for alternative fuels other than fossil fuels will lead to decarbonization.

　Mahle is working with partners such as Clean Air Power and the University of Nottingham to replace diesel with ammonia in heavy-duty vehicle engines as part of a project funded by the UK's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We are working on technology development. Ammonia has a well-developed production and transportation infrastructure, and can be said to be an easy-to-use fuel in fields that cannot be handled by electric drives.

　This study focuses on two approaches. One is a dual fuel system with a 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine. An injector will be retrofitted to the intake port of the existing engine, and ammonia will be introduced as the main fuel. I plan to test it soon.

　The other approach is to use Mahle's own single-cylinder engine. Ammonia is ignited using a pre-chamber ignition method called "MAHLE Jet Ignition (MJI)" instead of conventional spark plugs. This eliminates the need for a fossil fuel ignition source.

　MJI is a jet ignition method that ignites in a small chamber provided in the cylinder head, sends the generated hot gas into the main fuel chamber through a small hole, and ignites the remaining air-fuel mixture quickly and uniformly. As a result, fuel is efficiently combusted without generating harmful substances such as NOx. The improvement of combustion speed by MJI can solve the problem of engines that use ammonia, which burns slowly.