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New fuel economy standards intensify the power train development for more fuel efficient vehicles worldwide. Different approaches are utilized to improve the fuel efficiency of gasoline engines. Of all concepts, including downsizing plus turbocharging, stratified operation of spray-guided gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines show the greatest fuel savings benefit. A significant challenge for stratified GDI aftertreatment systems is to develop both catalysts and systems that can reduce the high amount and cost of precious metals currently needed to meet performance standards under low exhaust temperature operating conditions. Furthermore, tighter emission standards will exceedingly require high conversion rates for HC, CO and NOx. In this paper the most recently developed catalyst and systems for lean GDI aftertreatment will be compared with serial production EURO 5 systems against future legislated targets.

The launching of direct injection gasoline engines is currently one of the major challenges for the automotive industry in the European Union. Besides its potential for a notable reduction of fuel consumption, the engine with direct gasoline injection also offers increased power during stoichiometric and stratified operation. These advantages will most probably lead to a significant market potential of the direct injection concept in the near future. In order to meet the increasingly more stringent European emission levels (EURO IV), new strategies for the exhaust gas aftertreatment are required. The most promising technique developed in recent years, especially for NOx conversion in lean exhaust gases, is the so-called NOx storage catalyst.