Diesel-powered trucks are the workhorses of today's society, delivering the vast majority of goods used in North America. Now, after two decades of dramatic emissions reductions, the North American heavy truck industry has been challenged to develop even cleaner diesel engine solutions to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's new standards for 2010.
The leading solution is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) - an emissions-reduction technology with the ability to deliver near-zero emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a smog-causing pollutant and greenhouse gas. SCR's performance has been proved in millions of miles of real-world truck operations in other countries, as well as in long-term field tests in the U.S.
SCR reduces NOx emissions to very low levels, while at the same time delivering excellent fuel economy and reliability. The system doesn't change the design or operation of the basic engine. Rather, SCR is an aftertreatment system which converts NOx in the exhaust stream into harmless gases. Modern diesels already use exhaust aftertreatment systems, called diesel particulate filters, to control emissions of another pollutant, soot (also known as particulate matter or PM).
SCR works by injecting Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) into the exhaust. DEF is a safe, simple solution of water and urea, and will be avaiable at many leading truck stops across the U.S. in 2010. DEF works with the heat of the exhaust and a catalyst to convert NOx into nitrogen and water vapor - two harmless and natural components of the air we breathe. For an update on DEF availability, click here.
The end result is cleaner air, excellent fuel efficiency and a reliable emissions control system for today's modern diesels.
To better understand the advantages of SCR, watch the following interveiw on Big Truck TV
2010 SCR: What to Expect (video)
Click here for more SCR news and links
Click here for interviews with top industry professionals exploring the impact of SCR technology on their companies, the freight industry, the infrastructure and the general public.
Did you know? According to an online study conducted in November 2008, 53% of truck buyers will likely consider the purchase of SCR technology to meet the 2010 EPA standards compared to only 29% that will likely consider increased EGR. To find out more, click here.