Bosch claims it’s achieved a breakthrough in diesel exhaust treatment, lowering NOx levels 10 times lower than legal limits. In its own testing, Bosch was able to achieve NOx emissions of about 13 mg per kilometer, far below current European limits of 168 mg per kilometer and well ahead of the future limit of 120 mg per kilometer, due to take effect in 2020.

Automakers have relied on diesel to help the industry meet limits on CO2 emissions, a contributor to global warming. But while it emits less CO2 than gasoline-fueled engines, the technology also generates nitrogen oxides that contribute to harmful smog, a problem most acute in big cities.

Bosch’s new process optimizes thermal management of exhaust temperatures, slashing NOx emissions to one-10th of the legally permitted limit, and doesn’t require new hardware, Denner said. The system keeps emissions stable even at cold temperatures, he said.

According to Bosch, the company merely refined and improved existing emissions controls, reducing the need for additional components that would drive up cost. Advanced fuel injection technology, new air management, and intelligent temperature management helped reduce pollution in a variety of driving situations, including winter and summer temperatures, in congested traffic, and in wide-open freeway driving.