TU Wien awards 20th “Professor Ferdinand Porsche” prize

In its 40th year, the "Professor Ferdinand Porsche" prize from TU Wien has been awarded to Anke Kleinschmit, Vice President Group Research & Sustainability, Chief Environmental Officer at Daimler AG, Stuttgart. She received the award for Daimler's development of a four-cylinder diesel engine with the type designation OM 654, which was first used in spring 2016 in the new E-Class from Mercedes-Benz. The most impressive feature of this new engine concept is its innovative and highly effective emission control module. It is not only comfortably below the current exhaust gas limit values, but is also compliant with future emissions legislation based on the new WLTP driving cycle (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) and the measurement of Real Driving Emissions (RDE). 

The prize of EUR 50,000 was awarded this Friday for the 20th time. Professor Dr Sabine Seidler, Rector of TU Wien, awarded the prize to Anke Kleinschmit at an official ceremony in the university ballroom together with Dr Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG, and Dr Hans Michel Piëch, Member of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG. 

Professor Dr Bernhard Geringer, Director of the Institute for Powertrains and Automotive Technology at TU Wien, gave a speech explaining the technical details of Daimler's new generation of diesel engines, and praised their emission-reducing features as groundbreaking innovations. He was particularly impressed by the extremely low NO_x values, which had been measured and reproduced not just under the specific conditions of a standard driving cycle test, but also in everyday driving by independent inspectors. "This makes diesel just as clean as petrol in terms of nitrous oxide emissions, while offering significant benefits in relation to CO₂ emissions", emphasised Professor Geringer.  

Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, hailed the new Daimler engine as "an important milestone in the history of diesel". Blume: "The innovative solutions that Daimler has found will encourage more developments to be made, and illustrate the future prospects for clean diesel engines".    

The "Professor Ferdinand Porsche" prize is awarded every two years by TU Wien. It was founded in 1976 by Louise Piëch, daughter of Ferdinand Porsche, and has been awarded for the first time in 1977. It is one of the most lucrative prizes awarded for groundbreaking achievements in research and development in the field of automotive technology. Porsche Holding, Salzburg and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart each provide half of the prize money.