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Friday, July 11, 2014

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Forum: 33 percent of all trucks on U.S. highways sport "zero emission" engines

More than 33 percent of all medium and heavy duty commercial trucks registered in the U.S., feature newer technology clean diesel engines, according to data compiled by HIS Automotive for the Diesel Technology Forum.

The data includes registration information on about 8.8 million Class 3-8 trucks from 2007 through 2013 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The DTF says California, Texas and Indiana lead the nation in the total number of clean diesel trucks, while Indiana (50.4 percent), Utah (45.4 percent) and Oklahoma (44.8 percent) have the highest percentage of trucks with near zero emission engines.

"Because more than 95 percent of all heavy duty trucks are diesel-powered it is significant that more than one-third of these trucks are near zero emission vehicles," said Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. "Diesel trucks are literally the driving force behind goods movement in the U.S. and worldwide economies so the fact that the clean diesel fleet is increasing is good news for improved fuel efficiency and the environment."

Under the Environmental Protection Agency's 2007/2010 heavy-duty engine and highway diesel fuel sulfur control requirements, beginning with the 2007 model year, DTF says 100 percent of the new on-road diesel trucks were required to meet the near zero particulate emissions standards and 50 percent were required to meet the lower NOx exhaust standards.

"Last year was the fifth consecutive year of increased penetration of the new clean diesel trucks in the fleet, reflecting the continuing confidence that American truckers have in the performance and fuel efficiency improvements of new technology diesel engines," Schaeffer said.

"Emissions from today's diesel trucks and buses are near zero thanks to more efficient engines, more effective emissions control technology and the nationwide availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The new clean diesel technology has reduced emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses by 99 percent for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 98 percent for particulate emissions.

Shaefer reports that model year 2010 and later trucks are experiencing an average of three to five percent improvement in fuel economy. He notes that additional fuel-saving strategies are being developed to improve engine efficiency, vehicle aerodynamics and expanded application of hybrid technology.

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