Compliance won't come cheap: what EPA's Tier 3 and Tier 4 locomotive emissions standards mean for manufacturers and railroads

Railway Age, Sept, 2008 by David E. Brann

* Operating costs of Tier 4 locomotives will increase. The reagent for SCR devices is an additional fluid that will have to be replenished. Fuel consumption will be at least an opportunity cost. If manufacturers are able to meet Tier 4 with minimal consumption increase, the measures they take could have been used to improve fuel economy.

* Maintenance costs will increase. Locomotives will be even more tightly packed with equipment than they are now. There are packaging concerns, and space now empty will be filled with aftertreatment components, making maintenance more difficult and time-consuming. Periodic cleaning and replacement of aftertreatment catalyst elements will also add cost.

* The technical expertise necessary to overhaul and maintain locomotives in certified configuration will increase. Suppliers will be required to produce higher technology versions of emissions-critical components such as pistons, rings, cylinder liners, turbochargers, and fuel injectors.

* The advantage in regulated emissions over truck transport now enjoyed by railroads will diminish, as emissions likely slip into parity at a low level. However, the 4:1 fuel economy advantage of rail over on-highway transport will remain. As C[O.sub.2] emissions correlate directly with fuel economy, railroads will maintain an environmental advantage as EPA moves toward regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

FUEL SIPPER

National Railway Equipment Corp.'s N-ViroMotive GenSet set the stage for a rapid expansion in fuel-efficient, ultra-low-emission switcher locomotives.

Railpower Technologies has supplied 99 RP20BD triple-engine genset switchers to Union Pacific. UP is largely responsible for accelerating an industry trend to acquire units like these.

Wabtec's [MPE.sup.x] series, available in double- or triple-genset configuration, is the latest addition to a growing fleet of new-technology, ultra-low-emission switchers.

Brookville's Equipment Corp.'s CoGeneration[TM] triple-genset demonstrator switcher has been testing on a variety of Class I's and short lines.

By David E. Brann, Manager-Emissions Compliance, Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., for Railway Age

David E. Brann has been at EMD for 37 years and in emissions regulatory response since 1991. He has represented EMD in the development of EPA locomotive emissions rules. This article is based on a presentation given at Railroad Financial Corporation's 2008 Rail Equipment Finance Conference. The full text of EPA locomotive emissions rules, as well as supporting documentation, is available at www.epa.gov/otaq/locomotv.htm.>

Fig. 1 New Standards Drive Locomotive NOx
and PM to Low Levels

90% Reduction!

Tier 0 - 2000      9.5
Tier 1 - 2002      7.4
Tier 2 - 2005      5.5
Tier 3 - 2012      5.5
Tier 4 - 2015      1.3

93% Reduction!

Tier 0 - 2000      0.60
Tier 1 - 2002      0.45
Tier 2 - 2005      0.20
Tier 3 - 2012      0.10
Tier 4 - 2015      0.03

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Fig. 2 New Standards Reduce NOx and PM on Existing
Locomotives

                    Part 92    Part 1033

Tier 0 - 2010         9.5         8.0
Tier 1 - 2010         7.4         7.4
Tier 2 - 2013         5.5         5.5

                    Part 92    Part 1033

Tier 0 - 2010         0.60        0.22
Tier 1 - 2010         0.45        0.22
Tier 2 - 2013         0.20        0.10

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Fig. 3 New Tier 3-4 Switch Locomotive Standards
Recognize Repower Solutions

               EPA Line Haul    EPA Switch

Tier 0 2000        9.5             14.0
Tier 1 2002        7.4             11.0
Tier 2 2005        5.5              8.1
Tier 3 2012        5.5              5.0
Tier 4 2015        1.3              1.3

               EPA Line Haul    EPA Switch

Tier 0 - 2000      0.60            0.72
Tier 1 - 2002      0.45            0.54
Tier 2 - 2005      0.20            0.24
Tier 3 - 2012      0.10             .10
Tier 4 - 2015      0.03             .03

Note: Table made from bar graph.

COPYRIGHT 2008 Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning