KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pilot Travel Centers began operating the first two Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) fuel island pumps in North America in preparation for serving vehicles equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) hitting the streets in 2010.

Located on the west coast in Brooks, Ore. and on the east coast in Charlotte, N.C., the two initial fuel island DEF pumps are fully operational and ready to serve vehicles traveling coast to coast.

At a 2 percent consumption rate of diesel, a full tank of DEF will cover 6,000 miles, nearly twice across America.

The company plans to install the new bulk DEF pumps at 100 Pilot locations through the 4th quarter of 2009 and the 2nd quarter of 2010.

In addition to DEF pumps located along the country’s main corridors, Pilot Travel Centers will carry pre-packaged supplies of DEF at its 350 retail locations.

Initial pricing for DEF at the Pilot fuel islands is $2.69 per gallon, which is comparable to the price of diesel today.

Pilot’s commitment to dispense DEF at the fuel island will make DEF refilling ultra-convenient for drivers, eliminating the need for additional maneuvering of their trucks or searching for pre-packaged DEF quantities. Drivers can fill-up with DEF while they are filling up with diesel fuel and will pay for DEF using the same Comdata and charge processes they use today.