Unforgettable Car Geniuses: Rudolf Diesel

On October 10, 1913, the Dutch Coast Guard discovered the lifeless body of a man in the English Channel. The only belongings found on him were a coin purse, a pocket knife, a glasses case, and a pillbox. Following the customs of the time, the sailors returned the body to the sea. Three days later, in Vlissingen, Netherlands, Eugen Diesel recognized the objects: they belonged to his father, Rudolf, the famous German engineer known for inventing the diesel engine that bears his name. Born in 1858 in Paris to German parents, he was forced to flee to London due to the Franco-Prussian War but managed to return to Germany with the help of a cousin. He graduated in engineering in 1880 from the Technical University of Munich. Five years later, Rudolf Diesel founded his first workshop-laboratory, where he began developing a new type of engine based on using the high temperature generated by air compression in the combustion chamber to ignite the fuel. Initially, the experimental fuel was vegetable oil; only later was it developed for diesel fuel. In other words, his engine did not require a spark plug ignition, as was necessary for gasoline engines.

After graduating in engineering in Munich in 1880, Rudolf Diesel began developing a new type of engine that did not require a spark plug for ignition.

In 1892, he filed a patent, while the first functioning engine was completed in 1897. After presenting his invention at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, the industrialization of Diesel's patented engines began. Initially, these were stationary industrial engines designed to power machinery and generate energy. Soon, their durability and simplicity led to their application in ships and even submarines, where they powered surface navigation and provided electricity for electric motors when submerged. Rudolf Diesel's invention gained worldwide interest, being used in trains and ships. In 1911, for the first time, a large transoceanic ship crossed the Atlantic powered by Diesel engines—an unprecedented event.

The patent for the diesel engine, dated February 23, 1893, designed by Rudolf Diesel.

In a very short time, the engineer secured a multimillion-dollar income from his patents. In addition to becoming wealthy, he embarked on a series of lectures in the United States, where he explained his project in detail. Diesel engines were becoming increasingly widespread. The only sector still missing was automobiles, in contrast to industrial machines, agriculture, railways, and ships. Cars would remain absent until 1936, as their noise and relatively low performance compared to gasoline engines discouraged their use. It was Mercedes that first introduced a diesel-powered car: the 260 D, a four-cylinder model.

After industrial applications, use in boats, trains, and agricultural machinery, the diesel engine debuted in automobiles. The Mercedes-Benz 260 D of 1936.

Rudolf Diesel’s story ended tragically in 1913 under mysterious circumstances. He disappeared during his journey across the English Channel from Antwerp to Harwich aboard the Dresden. His cabin was found untouched, the bed unmade, and a cross was drawn in his diary, left behind in the empty room. But why would he commit suicide in such a cruel manner? Some suggest he was killed by German secret services because he opposed licensing his engine for use in German submarines. According to this theory, Diesel was traveling to Britain to discuss this matter with the Royal Navy. The possibility of an international conspiracy, just before an impending war, casts a shadow of mystery over the disappearance of a man who played a crucial role in 20th-century mobility. Sadly, we will never know what more he could have contributed.

Diesel-powered cars are becoming increasingly common in Europe.