TAMPA, Fla. – Benecor gave journalists at the Technology and Maintenance Council meetings a glimpse of its first urea dispensers for commercial and fleet applications at the Technology and Maintenance Council meetings.

The dispensers will be required by truck stops and fleets by 2010, when it’s expected most Class 8 trucks will rely on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to meet the next round of EPA emissions standards. Trucks with SCR will come equipped with a urea tank which will have to contain urea in order to meet the EPA’s emissions limits.

Brendan Foster, president of Benecor, said most fleets will opt to have 1,000- to 2,500-gallon urea dispensers at their yards so truckers can fill up their 30 to 50 gallon tanks when they return to the terminal. Foster said trucks will likely require a urea fill-up during every third or fourth diesel fill-up.

Benecor’s urea dispensers are heated, to prevent the urea from freezing.

It typically freezes at about 11 F. The tanks are designed to be installed above ground and feature overfill protection, level sensors, leak sensors and telemetry features to track the on-board supply of urea. They are dual walled to prevent leakage if the dispenser is damaged.

Currently, Benecor has two offerings for the trucking industry. One is a truck stop model designed with a commercial point-of-sale system for retail applications, the other is designed for fleet use at their own terminals.

“We recognize a fast-growing demand for answers to urea infrastructure and dispensing questions,” said Foster. “We are involved with stakeholder groups through the Engine Manufacturers Association, Auto Alliance, North American Truck Stop Operators and the Truck Manufacturers Association. Together, we are defining solutions for the urea infrastructure challenge. We see the economical and innovative approach of our above ground urea dispensers as one key component in an overall solution.”

While fleets are just now taking delivery of their first EPA 07 engines, Foster suggested they begin planning for 2010 now.

“The infrastructure for this launch has to be in place. Urea has got to be readily available before they launch the vehicles,” he insisted, noting Benecor is the first to market urea dispensing systems. He said truck stops should be installing their first dispensers as early as this fall. Eventually, he said 30-35% of truck stop lanes should be equipped with urea dispensers.

Naturally, the company admits it is expecting some push back from truck stops and fleets. A 1,000 gallon dispenser is expected to cost US$30,000-$50,000 installed – and truck stops in particular won’t be able to begin profiting from urea sales until 2010.

For more information about Benecor, visit www.benecor.net.