elvis_knows
03-28-2006, 01:57 PM
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=109778
Feds Tweak Upcoming Diesel Regulations To Promote Sales
03-28-2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and carmakers interested in selling diesels in the U.S. have negotiated a deal to tweak emissions regulations for diesels for three years, from model-year 2007 through 2009 to make it easier for diesel vehicles to pass the government's stringent test procedure.
Both sides are happy because the tradeoffs will result in fewer emissions over the life of the vehicle, but some tough-to-meet details have been eased. That's because the life span of the certified emissions is extended from 120,000 miles to 150,000 miles, so carmakers are promising these diesels will stay cleaner longer.
Meanwhile, however, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions for the first 4,000 miles may now be higher than would have been permitted. The higher emissions occur during the high-altitude and high-speed/high-acceleration portions of the test only. This trade will reduce overall NOx emissions during the vehicles' useful lives by 30 percent, according to EPA press officer Enesta Jones.
Further, to qualify for the break on NOx emissions, the diesels must also be 50-percent cleaner in terms of particulate matter emissions. That is the nasty black soot you see blasting from the exhaust of old diesels under full-throttle acceleration. This will cut particulate emissions to the same level as produced by gasoline engines, said Jones.
Chrysler Group safety and environmental regulations spokesman Max Gates says DaimlerChrysler, which sells Dodge Ram (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ViewModelDetail/make=Dodge/model=Ram%20Pickup%201500), Jeep Liberty (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ViewModelDetail/make=Jeep/model=Liberty) and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ViewModelDetail/make=Mercedes-Benz/model=E-Class) diesels already, supports the change.
"As an interim step for three years, it will help make diesels more widely available," Gates said.
In the meantime, there is still no news of an agreement between the EPA and carmakers on an approved scheme for refilling the urea reservoir needed for advanced exhaust after-treatment for the very cleanest planned diesels. DaimlerChrysler calls its technology "Bluetec," and company chairman Dieter Zetsche promised at the Chicago auto show that the technology would be approved and available in cars for sale in the U.S. later this year.
But so far, the EPA and DaimlerChrysler remain at odds regarding the methods of refilling the urea reservoir and what to do when it runs empty. "We are continuing to work closely with the industry on this," Jones said. "No word on any announcement."
Separately, Chrysler has announced support for the use of 20-percent biodiesel (B20) fuel in its Dodge Ram trucks, a significant step toward widespread use of domestically produced renewable energy in mainstream vehicles.
Feds Tweak Upcoming Diesel Regulations To Promote Sales
03-28-2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and carmakers interested in selling diesels in the U.S. have negotiated a deal to tweak emissions regulations for diesels for three years, from model-year 2007 through 2009 to make it easier for diesel vehicles to pass the government's stringent test procedure.
Both sides are happy because the tradeoffs will result in fewer emissions over the life of the vehicle, but some tough-to-meet details have been eased. That's because the life span of the certified emissions is extended from 120,000 miles to 150,000 miles, so carmakers are promising these diesels will stay cleaner longer.
Meanwhile, however, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions for the first 4,000 miles may now be higher than would have been permitted. The higher emissions occur during the high-altitude and high-speed/high-acceleration portions of the test only. This trade will reduce overall NOx emissions during the vehicles' useful lives by 30 percent, according to EPA press officer Enesta Jones.
Further, to qualify for the break on NOx emissions, the diesels must also be 50-percent cleaner in terms of particulate matter emissions. That is the nasty black soot you see blasting from the exhaust of old diesels under full-throttle acceleration. This will cut particulate emissions to the same level as produced by gasoline engines, said Jones.
Chrysler Group safety and environmental regulations spokesman Max Gates says DaimlerChrysler, which sells Dodge Ram (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ViewModelDetail/make=Dodge/model=Ram%20Pickup%201500), Jeep Liberty (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ViewModelDetail/make=Jeep/model=Liberty) and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ViewModelDetail/make=Mercedes-Benz/model=E-Class) diesels already, supports the change.
"As an interim step for three years, it will help make diesels more widely available," Gates said.
In the meantime, there is still no news of an agreement between the EPA and carmakers on an approved scheme for refilling the urea reservoir needed for advanced exhaust after-treatment for the very cleanest planned diesels. DaimlerChrysler calls its technology "Bluetec," and company chairman Dieter Zetsche promised at the Chicago auto show that the technology would be approved and available in cars for sale in the U.S. later this year.
But so far, the EPA and DaimlerChrysler remain at odds regarding the methods of refilling the urea reservoir and what to do when it runs empty. "We are continuing to work closely with the industry on this," Jones said. "No word on any announcement."
Separately, Chrysler has announced support for the use of 20-percent biodiesel (B20) fuel in its Dodge Ram trucks, a significant step toward widespread use of domestically produced renewable energy in mainstream vehicles.