Volvo Trucks selects EGR for 2007 emissions reduction technology

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GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America said today it will use exhaust gas recirculation technology and diesel particulate filters to meet stringent new U.S. diesel emissions regulations taking effect in 2007.

Volvo uses EGR to meet the current U.S. emissions standard for nitrogen oxides which took effect in October 2002. EGR and DPF will be used in North America on the new family of Volvo engines scheduled to be introduced in the 2007 time frame. The 2007 emissions standards are much stricter than current regulations, which themselves are already the most stringent in the world. The 2007 engines will use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, which will be in use in North America by then. Volvo plans to have about 30 engines in field testing with selected customers around the spring of 2005.

"2007 poses a formidable challenge in terms of emissions reductions, but we are confident our Volvo engines will not only provide cleaner air to breathe, but will continue to meet the very high demands our customers have for reliability, fuel economy and performance," said Peter Karlsten, president and CEO. "And, Volvo engines will fully comply with the 2007 regulations from Day 1, just as they did with the 2002 U.S. emissions regulations."
"Volvo’s experience with EGR demonstrates that we have the ability to bring a market-ready solution to our customers," said Karlsten. "For 2002, we designed our VN tractor to optimize the performance of EGR-equipped engines for fuel economy, as well as reliability. As the largest manufacturer of heavy-duty diesels in the world and one of the largest truck manufacturers, Volvo has the resources to deliver breakthrough performance for our customers."

EGR reduces emissions by returning a portion of exhaust gases back into the engine’s combustion cycle. The recirculated exhaust lowers the combustion temperature, which inhibits formation of NOx. The DPF is situated in the exhaust system and works by trapping tiny particles generated by diesel combustion.

"It is important to realize that our customers are already familiar with EGR and have accepted it as a reliable, everyday part of their operation," said Karlsten. "Despite the concern in the trucking industry leading up to the 2002 engines, Volvo customers experienced a smooth transition with no disruption of operations. We intend to have our EPA’07 engines in field testing as soon as possible and to work with our customers so that 2007 becomes another seamless transition for Volvo customers."

In addition to EGR, Volvo has developed and tested other emissions reduction technologies capable of meeting the 2007 standards, including selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Given the even lower emissions regulations scheduled for 2010, and the possibility of more emissions regulations beyond that, SCR remains a promising technology for future engine applications that Volvo will continue to explore for North America. SCR is the preferred emissions reduction strategy in Europe for Volvo Trucks. In addition, Volvo will continue to participate in U.S. industry efforts to develop a national distribution infrastructure for urea, the catalyst used in SCR systems to reduce NOx formation.

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