Energy & Industry / Transport & Mobility

Diesel Engine

Diesel's compression-ignition engine (patent 1892, efficient by 1897) wrings more work from each litre of fuel and powers ships, trains and trucks.

Rudolf Diesel patented compression ignition in 1892 after studying Carnot's thermodynamics, and had an efficient engine running in 1897. The Selandia (1912) was the first ocean-going motor ship, and diesel locomotives and trucks followed. Today diesel engines drive most container ships, freight trucks and a large share of farm and construction machinery.