Additional Resources

Letter to the Editor: Technological Innovations of Diesel

Record (NJ)- "Hazards of commuting hang heavy in N.J. air" (Page A-1, March 1) regrettably neglected to mention the technological innovations the diesel industry has made over the past several years to vastly reduce emissions.

Diesel has received an entire face-lift. The entire clean diesel system is brand new - from the fuel, to new clean engines, to advanced exhaust-emission control devices.

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 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.

Allen Schaeffer
Frederick, Md., March 2
The writer is executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a trade and advocacy group.