Diesel Industry Innovation Slashing Emissions, Helping To Deliver Cleaner Air
Forum Welcomes Support of Funding for Voluntary Retrofit Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, issued the following statement regarding a new report made public today by the Clean Air Task Force (CATF):
“The Diesel Technology Forum and the Clean Air Task Force share the view that diesel emissions can be virtually eliminated by the application of innovative technology available today. Thanks to a remarkable industry-wide investment in state-of-the-art engines, cleaner fuels and effective emission control devices, manufacturers have engineered clean diesel systems that are virtually emissions free. Some of these new technologies can be successfully applied to certain existing diesel engines for clean air benefits.
“Though we have some questions about the methods behind the results of this report, it stands to reason that evaluating air quality when behind a moving vehicle will find measurable levels of emissions. Urban settings are complex environments with a mixture of vehicle exhaust and typically many other industrial emissions. It is unclear if the generalizations made here are accurate, or to what extent their measurements were influenced by other mobile or stationary source emissions that were not studied.
The Forum appreciates CATF’s recommendations regarding full funding for retrofit legislation at the federal and state levels, and that clean diesel retrofits should receive priority funding in transportation and air quality improvement projects. However the portion of the report seeking new requirements that mandate the installation of best available emission control technology on public fleets or during engine rebuilds may cause unintended financial or technological complications for vehicle owners. It is also unclear as to whether this request is within the scope of legal authority of the Clean Air Act.
“As evidence of the industry’s progress in reducing emissions, commercial trucks sold this year have 90 percent fewer emissions of fine particles than trucks built at any point in the past 17 years. Today’s new clean diesel trucks are so clean that it would take 60 of today’s trucks to equal the emissions of a single 1988 model year truck.
“Opportunities for modernizing and upgrading emissions from existing vehicles are greater than ever before. When properly matched to vehicle size and operating characteristics, new emissions control technology such as particulate filters can reduce emissions by up to 85 percent. Prior to October 2006, the use of such devices was limited. Now that ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is available nationwide, we hope that voluntary diesel retrofit programs increase.”
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the economic importance
and environmental progress of diesel engines and equipment. Forum members represent the three parts of the modern
clean diesel system: advanced engines, cleaner diesel fuel and effective emissions control systems.
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