WASHINGTON, D.C. — To help show its readiness for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2007 emissions standards, Caterpillar took part in a demonstration as part of an industry-wide clean-diesel event held near EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Two years ago this week, I was honoured to be in Washington where we demonstrated for the EPA a prototype engine that met the 2007 standard,” said Doug Oberhelman, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for the company’s engine business. “The C13 engine we demonstrated today is like the production engines our customers will use starting in 2007.”

In May of 2005, Caterpillar also demonstrated a 2007 compliant truck engine for President George Bush at an event in Virginia. The President examined a white handkerchief that had been held over the exhaust stack of a truck as the engine was revved. Following the demonstration, the handkerchief was still white.

As part of a comprehensive testing program to make sure customers are familiar with the technology used to meet emissions regulations, Caterpillar customers have already logged more than two million miles on 2007 compliant engines. Caterpillar is building on its ACERT Technology to meet the 2007 regulations, adding clean gas induction and a diesel particulate filter to help meet standards.

“In 1988, the average EPA-compliant heavy-duty on-highway truck travelling 120,000 miles in a year emitted about 470 lbs. of particulate matter,” Oberhelman said. “The engine we demonstrated today, and the engines our customers will use in 2007, will emit less than eight pounds of particulate matter a year, a reduction of approximately 98%.”

Caterpillar has invested more than $1 billion in clean-diesel technology in recent years.