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Further advancements in engine development lead to increased fuel efficiency and reduced CO₂ emission. Such low emission engine concepts require most advanced exhaust gas aftertreatment systems for lowest possible tailpipe emissions. On the other hand, the exhaust gas purification by catalytic measures experiences more and more challenges due to constantly reduced exhaust gas temperatures by more efficient engines. These challenges can be overcome by traditional catalyst heating strategies, which are known to increase fuel consumption and emissions. Alternatively, electrically heated catalysts ("EHC") can be utilized to provide a very efficient method to increase gas temperatures directly in the exhaust catalyst. This way the energy input can be tailored according to the component need and the energy loss in the system can be minimized.

Future emission legislation and new diesel engine technology tighten the requirements for modern diesel vehicle exhaust after-treatment systems. In particular, the oxidation catalyst system requires more efficiency to treat increasing raw emissions of HC and CO at low exhaust gas temperatures resulting from advanced combustion processes. This represents a big challenge for all developers today where the cost of raw materials continues to rise. Splitting the oxidation catalyst volume into two parts and mounting a very small part in front of a turbocharger on Euro III or Euro IV Diesel engines has been proved very efficient: Light off and maximum pollutant conversion rates were improved. New results gained with Pre Turbocharger Catalyst (PTC) on a Euro V type diesel engine are confirming previous observations. The complete after-treatment system of today's vehicles should be designed and developed for the whole life of the vehicle.