Clean Diesel Technology to Help Achieve EPA’s New Soot Standards Under Clean Air Act
Advancements in clean diesel technology over the past 10 years in conjunction with new research and development in all modes of diesel engines will play a major role in helping meet the updated Clean Air Act particulate matter (soot) standards announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“For the last decade, diesel technology has undergone a fundamental transformation to near zero emissions, based on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, advanced clean-burning engines and new emissions control technology,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum. “These advancements have occurred across the board -from the smallest industrial engine to the clean diesel cars, commercial trucks, off-road machines and equipment, marine vessels and locomotives.
“As a result diesel engine, equipment and vehicle manufacturers have already made tremendous progress in reducing particulate matter (PM) emissions and today diesel is only a small portion of the PM emissions inventory – less than six percent.
Modern Diesel Trucks and Buses Have Near Zero Levels of Particulate Emissions
“Since 2007, all highway heavy duty diesel trucks and buses have had near zero levels of particulate emissions. Because of the investments in new technology it now takes 60 of today’s technology trucks to emit the same level of PM emissions as one truck built in 1988.
“In addition, new farm tractors and construction equipment of all shapes and sizes are now at, or are moving toward, near-zero emissions for particulate matter.
“Just as the EPA’s March 2012 Black Carbon Report to Congress stated that new diesel technology will play a major role in helping reduce black carbon emissions by 2030, new diesel technology will play a major role in meeting the new Clean Air Act standards for soot.”
Diesel Engines Move 80 Percent Of Freight In U.S.
Schaeffer said diesel is vitally important the U.S. economy and the nation’s economic future.
“The diesel industry contributes more than $480 billion annually to the U.S economy and provides more than 1.25 million jobs throughout the nation,” Schaeffer said. “The overall importance of diesel to the U.S. economy is found in the movement of freight and commodities. Diesel-powered trucks, trains, ships and intermodal systems move more than 80 percent of freight by value ($11.7 trillion) and weight (12.5 billion tons) each year.
Older Diesel Engines Can Be Modernized With New Technology
“Beyond the new technology advancements in reducing particulate emission, there are opportunities for modernizing and upgrading existing diesel engines and equipment. We are continuing to work with national environmental and health organizations to increase funding for the highly-successful voluntary and incentive-based Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which is helping to modernize and upgrade older diesel engines in school and transit buses, commercial trucks, construction and agricultural equipment, and marine vessels.”
About the Diesel Technology Forum
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org.
