Katerina Swanson
The history of fuel injection in cars is a long and complex one, with the idea of fuel injection being over a century old. The first fuel injection system was invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885, but it wasn't until the 1950s that the first fuel-injected cars started to appear, with GM introducing its first fuel-injection model in 1957. The 1950s also saw the first electronic fuel injection system, the Bendix Electrojector, which was fitted to several American cars, including Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, and Plymouth models in 1958. Fuel injection technology was developed during World War II, with the German Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter planes employing fuel injection to gain an advantage over the British Royal Air Force's Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. The 1970s saw fuel injection appearing in mainstream cars, and since the 1980s, fuel injectors have largely replaced carburetors in auto design due to their increased efficiency and reduced emissions. Today, virtually all cars in the developed world use electronically controlled fuel injection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First fuel injection system | Invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885 |
| First use | In World War I plane designs |
| First commercially available electronic fuel injection system | Bendix Electrojector in 1958 |
| First cars to offer electronic fuel injection on a mass-market production scale | Built by Chrysler and its subsidiaries in 1958 |
| First electronic fuel injection system by Bosch | D-Jetronic, first introduced on the VW 1600 TL in 1967 |
| First fuel-injection model by GM | Corvette in 1957 |
| First fuel injection system that was successful and trouble-free | Rochester's Ramjet mechanical fuel injection system in 1957 |
| First use in mainstream cars | 1970s |
| Mandatory in Europe | Since mid-1990s |
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What You'll Learn
The first fuel injection system
The history of fuel injection in cars goes back several decades, with the technology first appearing in aircraft during World War I and then in the 1940s. The first fuel injection system that resembled modern systems was invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885. The story goes that Stuart accidentally spilled a flask of kerosene into a pot of molten tin, discovering that liquid kerosene is reluctant to ignite, but its vapours ignite eagerly. This led to the creation of the hot-bulb engine, which entered production under licence in 1891.
The first commercially available electronic fuel injection (EFI) system was the Bendix Electrojector, which debuted in 1958 in several American cars, including Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, and Plymouth models. However, the system was plagued with problems, and only a few dozen cars were fitted with it. The patent rights were later acquired by Bosch, which became a leader in electronic fuel injection.
In 1954, the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 team fitted its "Silver Arrow" W196 racecar with Bosch direct injection, derived from the system used in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane from World War II. This racecar, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, won the championship in 1954 and 1955, showcasing the advantages of fuel injection.
In 1957, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) installed the Bendix Electrojector on their Rambler prototype, but it never went into production due to issues with cold-weather starting. This left the honour of the first electronically injected car to Chrysler and its subsidiaries in 1958.
The first electronic fuel injection system by Bosch, the D-Jetronic, was introduced on the VW 1600 TL in 1967 and soon appeared in various other car brands. By the 1970s, fuel injection was becoming common in mainstream cars, and since the mid-1990s, it has been mandatory for all new cars in Europe to have fuel injection.
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World War II aircraft
Fuel injection technology has been around for over a century, with the first fuel injection system that resembled those of today invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885. However, it was during World War II that developments in fuel injection technology truly accelerated, as the need for improved aircraft performance led to significant innovations in this field.
The Rolls-Royce Merlin engines in British fighters, such as the Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane, utilized carburettors, which caused fuel supply interruptions during negative-g maneuvers. In contrast, German aircraft, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109, employed direct fuel injection, which provided a performance advantage. This German technology was later used in the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 racecar, the "Silver Arrow," in 1954, showcasing its continued relevance in the post-war era.
Japanese WWII aircraft also incorporated fuel injection technology, with engines like the Kinsei, Homare, and Kasei series employing direct or indirect fuel injection. The Japanese also utilized water-alcohol injection in many of their engines by 1944-1945, further enhancing the performance of their aircraft.
The Allies, on the other hand, adopted water-methanol/ethanol injection in late 1943 or early 1944, with aircraft like the P-47s, F4U, F6U, FM-2, and P-63 benefiting from this technology.
While World War II saw significant advancements in fuel injection for aircraft, it wasn't until the 1950s that the first examples of fuel injection appeared in automobiles. The 1950s and 1960s witnessed the introduction of electronic fuel injection (EFI) systems in select car models, although their widespread adoption occurred in the 1970s. By the mid-1990s, it became mandatory for all newly introduced engines in Europe to feature fuel injection, marking the technology's transformation from cutting-edge innovation to mainstream standard.
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The 1950s
In 1955, the first configuration of fuel injection to reach a mass-market scale was introduced in select Mercedes-Benz 300SLs. However, this system suffered from a widespread issue of gasoline leaking into the engine oil, leading Mercedes to switch to an alternate manifold fuel injection design soon after. In 1957, GM introduced its first fuel-injection model as an option in many vehicles, although the early design was dropped from all models except the Corvette the following year due to various issues. The Corvette remained the only GM model to offer fuel injection as an option until 1965, leading many to remember it as the first successful fuel-injected model.
The first electronic fuel injection system, the Bendix Electrojector, was introduced in 1958 by Chrysler and its subsidiaries, including DeSoto, Dodge, and Plymouth. However, the system was plagued with problems, and only a few dozen cars were fitted with it. Most owners of these cars later converted them back to four-barrel carburettors. Despite the setbacks, the 1950s marked the beginning of fuel injection in the automotive market, and by the 1970s, fuel injection was appearing in mainstream cars.
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The 1970s
Fuel injection systems were developed early in the history of the internal combustion engine, but they did not enter the automotive market until the 1950s. In the 1970s, fuel injection was appearing in mainstream cars. Automakers spent much of the 1970s trying to design carburettor technology that would be able to keep up with clean air demands. However, the designs became complex and unwieldy, and fuel injection soon became the preferred option.
The first electronic fuel injection system by Bosch, called D-Jetronic, was first introduced on the VW 1600 TL in 1967. By the 1970s, it was appearing on many other cars from various brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Citroën, Saab, and Volvo. Lucas also built a slightly modified version for Jaguar under license.
In 1958, the first commercially available EFI system, the Bendix Electrojector, debuted in several models made by the American brands AMC and Rambler. It also appeared in Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, and Plymouth cars. However, the system was riddled with problems, and it ended up being fitted to only a few dozen cars, most of which were later converted back to four-barrel carburettors by their owners.
In 1954, the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 team fitted its “Silver Arrow”, the W196 racecar, with Bosch direct injection derived from the system used in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane from World War II. The 2.5-litre straight-eight engine produced 257 hp without supercharging – a stunning figure for the time. Thanks in large part to the advantages provided by fuel injection, Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss won the championship in 1954 and 1955.
The first fuel injection system that can be called relatively successful and trouble-free was Rochester's Ramjet mechanical fuel injection system, which was introduced on the 1957 Corvette.
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Air pollution
The issue of air pollution from automobiles came to the forefront in the 1970s, as the skylines of cities like Los Angeles became shrouded in smog. Local and state governments, witnessing the detrimental effects of widespread automobile use, began pressuring automakers to reduce emissions. This led to a decade-long struggle for automakers to redesign carbureted engines to meet the increasingly stringent clean air demands. However, their efforts ultimately resulted in complex and unwieldy carburetor technology.
The limitations of carbureted engines and the challenges of reducing emissions opened the door for the widespread adoption of fuel injection systems in automobiles. The first fuel injection systems, though rudimentary, date back to the early days of the internal combustion engine. The British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart's invention in 1885, spurred by a laboratory fire, led to the creation of the hot-bulb engine, which entered production in 1891. This early fuel injection system found applications in agriculture and shipping.
The concept of fuel injection gained momentum during World War II, as both Allied and Axis forces sought technological advantages in aircraft engines. The German Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter planes utilized fuel injection, outperforming the carbureted engines of the British Royal Air Force's Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. This spurred the development of fuel injection technology in the post-war era, with the first commercially available electronic fuel injection (EFI) system, the Bendix Electrojector, debuting in 1958. Despite a rocky start, with issues leading to its discontinuation in most models, the Electrojector laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements.
In the late 1960s, the Volkswagen 1600 TL became the first car to feature Bosch's D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection system, marking a significant step forward in the technology's evolution. By the 1970s, fuel injection systems began appearing in mainstream cars, and their presence in the automotive market steadily grew. The 1980s and 1990s witnessed the decline of carbureted engines as fuel injection systems became the standard, offering increased efficiency, precision, and reduced air pollution. Today, virtually all cars in the developed world rely on electronically controlled fuel injection, showcasing the transformative impact of this technology in addressing the pressing issue of air pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Fuel injection systems were developed early in the history of the internal combustion engine, but they did not enter the automotive market until the 1950s.
The first commercially available electronic fuel injection (EFI) system was the Bendix Electrojector, which debuted in several models made by the American brands AMC and Rambler in 1958.
The first mass-market fuel injection system was the Bosch unit found in select 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SLs.
Fuel injection systems are more efficient and precise than carburetor systems and don't require any adjustments or tinkering. They also produce less waste in the form of emissions, which has been important in reducing air pollution.
Early fuel injection systems include the Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection system, first introduced on the 1957 Corvette, and the Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection system, first seen in the 1967 Volkswagen 1600 TL.
