Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks will use exhaust gas recirculation technology and diesel particulate filters to meet the 2007 federal diesel emissions standard.
The companies already use EGR to meet the federal emissions standard for nitrogen oxides that became effective in 2002. The 2007 engines will use ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, which by that time will be available in North America.
Peter Karlsten, president and chief executive officer, said 2007 should be a seamless transition for Volvo customers. Selected customers will field test 30 engines in spring 2005.
Volvo has investigated other technologies that would meet 2007 requirements, including selective catalytic reduction, and will face an even lower emissions standard in 2010. Company officials have described SCR as a “a promising technology for future engine applications that Volvo will continue to explore for North America.”
Volvo will continue to work with U.S. industry efforts to develop a national distribution infrastructure for urea, an important ingredient of SCR emissions technology.
Last September, Volvo and other truck manufacturers held the Urea Distribution Stakeholder Group’s first meeting. Group members include urea producers, truckstop operators and others who want to create an efficient urea supply chain.
Mack said the decision to concentrate on EGR for its 2007 engines reflects its experience with similar technology in its current ASET engine lineup.
“Mack ASET engines have been in customer trucks since early 2002, and that means no other engine manufacturer has more experience with EGR than we do,” said Mack president and CEO Paul Vikner. “Our engines have all been in compliance with the EPA ’02 emissions standards since they took effect, and the ASET technology continues to meet expectations in terms of fuel economy, uptime and performance.”
Caterpillar, Cummins and International Truck and Engine Corp. have said they would meet the 2007 emissions standards without using SCR.
Caterpillar has said its proprietary Advanced Combustion Emission Reduction Technology will be used as a “foundation to meet emissions standards in 2007 and beyond.”
Cummins has said it will meet 2007 standards through using particulate filters in the exhaust system and slight tweaking of its EGR engines. International uses Caterpillar and Cummins engines in its Class 8 trucks.
