LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. and GREENSBORO, N.C. – Both Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America will be using a combination of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to satisfy the nitrogen oxides (NOx) portion of the federal diesel engine emissions regulations scheduled to take effect in 2010.

The 2010 regulations, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), call for NOx emissions levels to be reduced more than 80% from the standard set to take effect in January.

SCR is an aftertreatment technology that involves injecting a water-based solution containing urea into the hot exhaust stream of an engine. The urea, in conjunction with a catalyst in the exhaust aftertreatment system, breaks down the NOx into harmless nitrogen and water vapour. Urea is an organic nitrogen-containing compound commonly used in agriculture as a fertilizer and is classified by the EPA as a non-hazardous substance.

Both Mack and Volvo have confirmed that in addition to the EGR and SCR solutions, their EPA 2010 solution will feature the diesel particulate filter (DPF) being deployed for 2007, as the required particulate matter emissions levels remain the same for 2010.

“We’re confident that the combination of HEGR and SCR is the best choice for our customers,” said Mack president and CEO Paul Vikner. “This solution offers an efficient and effective means of meeting the required NOx emissions levels in the EPA 2010 regulations. We intend to continue working closely with EPA and other stakeholders to finalize the infrastructure to ensure the widespread availability of urea to our customers.”

Vikner added that Mack has been successfully running SCR systems on prototype trucks since 2000, logging more than two million miles on 10 customer vehicles. Volvo also draws upon the Volvo Group’s extensive experience with SCR in Europe, where the technology is used to meet the Euro 4 emissions regulations. That experience includes more than 23 million test miles, as well as production for regular use by customers beginning this year. Volvo Trucks North America has also had customer field tests of SCR-equipped trucks operating in the United States since 2003.

“Our experience shows that this is the best technology to reduce NOx emissions to extremely low levels, while delivering the fuel economy, reliability and performance our customers demand,” said Peter Karlsten, president and CEO of Volvo Trucks North America.