EPA, Ford Test Promising Clean Diesel Technology

[Kolesar]

Low temperature combustion may make this the panacea for diesel. High temperatures cause nitrous oxide emissions which are smog producing and greenhouse gasses. No catalytic converter could eliminate nitrogen emissions. We may finally get high efficiency and low pollution.

All-American Patriots

EPA, Ford Test Promising Clean Diesel Technology
Clean diesel combustion more fuel efficient than gasoline, EPA says
01 February 2005

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ford Motor Company are refining and testing the potential for commercial application of a promising clean diesel technology that meets stringent EPA tailpipe emission standards and is more fuel efficient than gasoline. According to a January 28 EPA press release, this is the second phase of a research agreement between Ford and EPA to examine a new emissions-control technology called clean diesel combustion (CDC), which was developed and patented by EPA.


"Diesel engines are an extremely attractive technology to help achieve EPA's future emissions standards," said Jeff Holmstead, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation. "The challenge has been to maintain diesel's efficiency while making the diesel ultraclean in a cost-effective manner."

Ford and EPA showcased a Ford Galaxy minivan to demonstrate the clean diesel technology at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Michigan. The diesel minivan gets 30 percent to 40 percent better mileage than a gasoline minivan, and meets EPA's emission standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx). According to EPA, diesel is typically 25 to 40 percent more fuel efficient than gasoline.

...edit for copyright reasons....

Because NOx can react in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, preventing NOx emissions is necessary to protect air quality, public health and the environment.

Information about clean diesel combustion technology is available at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/technology/index.htm - partnership

Text of the EPA press release follows:


Environmental Protection Agency
Press release, January 28, 2005

EPA, Ford Test Promising Clean Diesel Technology on Passenger Vehicles

(Ann Arbor, Mich. - January 28, 2005) EPA and Ford Motor Company are refining and testing the potential for commercial application of a promising clean diesel technology that meets stringent EPA tailpipe emission standards and is more fuel-efficient than gasoline. This is the second phase of a research agreement between Ford and EPA to examine a new emissions control technology called Clean Diesel Combustion (CDC), which was developed and patented by EPA.

"Diesel engines are an extremely attractive technology to help achieve EPA's future emissions standards," said Jeff Holmstead, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation. "The challenge has been to maintain diesel's efficiency, while making the diesel ultra-clean in a cost effective manner. Moving these types of innovative technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace is essential, if we are to continue to improve air quality for all Americans."

Ford and EPA announced the agreement at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., where they showcased a Ford Galaxy minivan to demonstrate the clean diesel technology. The diesel minivan gets 30-40 percent better mileage than a gasoline minivan, while meeting EPA's emission standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) of .07 grams per mile (Tier 2 bin 5).

CDC is one of several emerging clean diesel technologies that promise to meet EPA's tailpipe emission standards and improve fuel economy in cars, SUVs and trucks. CDC technology achieves EPA NOx standards through a newly developed diesel combustion process that does not produce NOx during fuel combustion, thus avoiding the need for NOx controls in the exhaust system. Because NOx can react in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, preventing NOx emissions from vehicles is necessary to protect air quality, public health and the environment.

Currently, less than one percent of passenger vehicles in the United States are powered by diesel engines. In the future, however, clean diesel technologies such as CDC may allow more American consumers to benefit from diesel's performance, durability and fuel efficiency. Diesel is typically 25 to 40 percent more fuel efficient than gasoline.

"Clean diesel engine development is an important part of Ford Motor Company's global strategy to meet the future needs of our customers and the environment," said Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "We are pleased to partner with the EPA in this effort, recognizing that our research results can help meet key challenges facing the automotive industry. Ford's collaboration with the EPA accelerates the development of technologies that will potentially enable the application of clean diesel engines across many vehicle platforms."

Margo Oge, EPA director of the Office of Transportation Air Quality, said, "We are proud of the researchers in our Ann Arbor Laboratories that invented and are developing this exciting diesel engine technology, and are very pleased that Ford has partnered with us as we work to broaden the range of options available to the auto industry to cost effectively introduce clean diesels into the marketplace."

The EPA-Ford partnership on Clean Diesel Combustion technology is occurring through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, which Congress established to facilitate technology transfer of patented inventions from national laboratories to industry and the marketplace. As a contractor to EPA, FEV Engine Technology Inc. assisted in the development of EPA's patented Clean Diesel Combustion technology.

For more information about Clean Diesel Combustion technology, visit : http://www.epa.gov/otaq/technology/index.htm#partnership.

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[masjenkins]

1. the clean diesel act?

next they will be drafting a clean ______ (insert your favorite carcinogen) act.. in cooperation with _______(insert your favorite chemical company) . I am moving to mars. btw...whats up with bush's "mission to mars" initiative from last year? oh,, wait, i forgot.. steroids was a more pressing matter.