Mahle announced that it has developed a new generation of piston coatings, with the goal of increasing efficiency and minimizing emissions. These coatings are intended to guide and reduce the heat entering the pistons, which initially reduces the demand for piston cooling, and the increased exhaust gas temperature allows a higher quantity of energy to be extracted by waste heat recovery (WHR) systems, the company said. At the same time, the higher exhaust gas temperature permits faster heating of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system following the cold start, Mahle added, noting that the resulting decrease in NOx emissions makes it easier to comply with current and future legislation.

Mahle also noted that it achieves additional positive effects by optimizing the piston galleries—for instance, the MonoLite piston with its kidney-shaped cross section, which allows a temperature reduction of up to 20 kelvin without any negative impact on the aging process of the oil used. The combination of reduced oil flow and a small compression height helps to minimize friction and fuel consumption.