As part of an effort to increase fuel efficiency and reduce harmful vehicle emissions, executives from truck and engine manufacturers, diesel exhaust fluid producers, fuel retailers, distributors and dispensing equipment suppliers met with members of trade associations and governing agencies recently. Meetings were held in concert with the United States Department of Energy's Diesel Engine-Efficiency and Emissions Research (DEER) Conference in Dearborn MI to plan for the rollout of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology in diesel-powered vehicles.
Key to that rollout is the development of a distribution and retail infrastructure to support the availability of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), a fluid that enables SCR systems in vehicles to operate. Participants say outcomes of this cross-functional commitment will be a nationwide infrastructure that supports product availability and assures the quality of diesel exhaust fluid for light trucks introduced in 2008-2009, as well as for medium- and heavy-duty trucks using SCR technology.
One of the only emissions control technologies that can reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions while increasing fuel economy, SCR is one of the most promising technologies to deliver clean, fuel-efficient and environmentally-compliant diesel power for cars and commercial trucks. By optimizing fuel efficiency, SCR improves engine performance while reducing emissions to near-zero levels. SCR-equipped vehicles require only the addition of small quantities of the separate diesel exhaust fluid to reduce exhaust to harmless levels of nitrogen and water. SCR-equipped vehicles also offer significant fuel savings for vehicle owners and operators.
The SCR Stakeholder Group represents nearly 200 public and private organizations. Participants include government agencies (U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), heavy-duty engine and truck manufacturers and trade associations, fuel retailers and truckstop trade associations, chemical and oil companies, diesel exhaust fluid producers, distributors and dispensing equipment manufacturers. Objectives for the group are:
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To exchange information with the U.S. government and other potential stakeholders on the potential market and need for SCR technology and diesel exhaust fluid availability.