Diesel forum says all major heavy-duty engines meet '07 standards
The Trucker News Services
1/26/2007
Diesel forum says all major heavy-duty engines meet '07 standards
WASHINGTON — The Diesel Technology Forum has announced that all major heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers have met new Environmental Protection Agency standards for emissions cuts and have been certified by EPA for full production.
The new big rigs are equipped with innovative new particulate matter filters that trap emissions and result in 2007 trucks being 90 percent cleaner than the previous generation of trucks. Nitrogen oxide emissions have also been reduced significantly with new technology.
"With the government certification of heavy-duty trucks now official, we can celebrate another milestone in the clean diesel transformation," Forum executive director Allen Schaeffer said. "The nationwide availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in October 2006 provided 97 percent cleaner diesel fuel, enabling manufacturers to engineer the cleanest diesel trucks ever. With government certifications officially recognizing the success of the new diesel engines in drastically cutting emissions, all Americans can celebrate a stunning clean air achievement. Truck and engine makers stepped up to the challenge, and now we've all met it."
Manufacturers now certified by the EPA include Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel Corp., International, Mack and Volvo, meaning each is compliant with the most stringent diesel emissions standards in the world. The EPA predicts that these new trucks, once they fully replace the existing fleet, will reduce emissions of smog-forming gases by 2.6 million tons each year, and cut soot emissions by 110,000 tons annually.
"America's long-haul truckers can be confident in the reliability and durability of these engines," Schaeffer said. "The technology on these trucks has been engineered through millions of miles of testing, which has shown the performance, fuel economy and durability required to not only meet but exceed customer expectations."
Because 94 percent of goods are shipped via diesel trucks, consumers can soon expect that many products they see on store shelves will be delivered by the advanced technology trucks.
— The Trucker News Services
