Engine manufacturers see 'red' over 2007 diesel rule

Diesel Fuel News, March 17, 2003 by Jack Peckham

While U.S. EPA claims that last year's technology review on the feasibility of meeting 2007/2010 heavy-duty highway diesel emissions standards indicates satisfactory and timely progress, an Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) assessment raises many critical "red flags."

While diesel particulate filters (DPFs) seem able to meet emissions and performance requirements, "reliability" rates a "red" warning on EMA's green/yellow/red scale of "probability of success" for meeting EPA's requirements.

"Red" means "no solution - invention required," while "green" means "high probability of success." A "yellow" means "significant issues remain to be resolved," EMA says.

By this ranking scheme, EMA sees DPFs earning a "yellow" on useful life, fuel economy, maintenance, installation impact and infrastructure requirements, and a "red" on first cost.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) adsorbers have a much bleaker ranking, with "red" flags on reliability, useful life, first cost, maintenance and infrastructure requirements, EMA says. "Yellow" flags on NOx traps apply to emissions, performance, fuel economy and installation impact, EMA told the World Truck Conference this month.

Another problem: Manufacturers "need to make technology choices before year-end" in order to move to product evaluation phase, prior to any possible introduction for 2007. EMA urges a technology review workshop by July, but EPA says this review won't happen before August or September.