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Diesel EmissionsOver the past 10 years the world has seen a steady growth in the numbers of diesel powered vehicles. For many the diesel engine remains the dominant source of power for heavy duty trucks and is increasingly being introduced into light duty vans and passenger cars. During the Diesel Technology Forum 2000 held in Washington DC came the statement that "The future economic growth of the nation is strategically linked to diesel power." Diesel engines are important because they provide more power and better fuel economy when compared to conventional gasoline engines. They are also considered to be more durable and reliable. The technology has come a long way over the last 15 years. The development of smaller more refined diesel engines means that today over 50% of new European passenger car registrations are diesel. In the US, the small percentage of diesel passenger cars (1 per cent - 3 per cent) is expected to grow significantly as high performance, economical diesels make their way into the US market. Environmentally, therefore, diesel engines are as much as 40 per cent more fuel-efficient than gasoline engines: reducing fuel consumption is generally cited as the primary way to reduce CO2 emissions. Following the Kyoto climate change conference in December 1997, the signatories have a legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (UK by 12.5 per cent) below 1990 levels by the period 2008 to 2012 - a UK reduction equivalent to 27 million tonnes of CO2. The UK also has a domestic aim of reducing CO2 emissions to 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010 and is committed to putting itself on the path to cut CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by about 2050. Diesel engines, however, emit higher levels of two toxic pollutants than do gasoline engines fitted with catalytic converters. These are particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Both of these pollutants affect human health and also damage the environment. Faced with the increasing number of diesels the regulators around the world are introducing new emission standards in 2007, and 2010 will see the reductions in NOx and PM by up to 90 per cent from levels in 2004. Clean Diesel Technologies Inc has succeeded in developing world-class technologies and products that, when combined with other commercially available after-treatment devices, can reduce PM and NOx emissions from diesel engines below natural gas engines, while also reducing fuel consumption. |
