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To meet future emission levels the industry is trying to reduce tailpipe emissions by both, engine measures and the development of novel aftertreatment concepts. The present study focuses on a joint development of aftertreatment concepts for gasoline engines that are optimized in terms of the exhaust system design, the catalyst technology and the system costs. The best performing system contains a close-coupled catalyst double brick arrangement using a new high thermal stable catalyst technology with low precious metal loading. This system also shows an increased tolerance against catalyst poisoning by engine oil.

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.

Future emission standards will require further reduction of harmful gaseous emissions such as HC, CO and NOx as well as consideration for greenhouse gas emissions such as CO₂. Gasoline engines with lean combustion spray-guided direct fuel injection in conjunction with turbocharging have a very high potential for fuel savings. The main challenge for stratified lean GDI aftertreatment systems is the development of a catalyst system to fulfill the emission legislation requirements under low exhaust temperature operating conditions with efficient use of precious metals. In addition to the very stringent emission legislation another challenge for the introduction of lean gasoline engines in North America is the higher sulfur content of the fuel compared to Europe. In this paper exhaust gas aftertreatment requirements for stratified gasoline direct injection engines will be discussed and the latest advances in catalyst and system development will be shown.