Can Collaboration Breed Results in the Automotive Industry?
Jan. 1, 2020
4 min read
DIESEL DEBATECan Collaboration Breed Results in the Automotive Industry? WASHINGTON (Jan. 29, 2007) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new and revised rules for the 2001 Clean Diesel Trucks and Buses Program. For several years, the Agency has been discussing and participating in nationwide voluntary efforts to reduce the level of harmful emissions arising from diesel sources. Nuts and bolts The proposed requirements are designed to propel significant reductions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, non-methane hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and air toxics from diesel-powered vehicles. The new proposal will require several advanced emissions control systems, which include:
- Brian Mormino, director of government relations for Cummins Inc.In the past, heavy-duty diesel engines have relied primarily on in-cylinder modifications to meet emission standards. Emission standards have been met through various means, including changes in fuel timing, piston design, combustion chamber design, charge air cooling, use of four valves per cylinder rather than two, and piston ring pack design and location improvements. Collaboration sets realistic goals Of significant note, these proposed rule changes have come from a collaborative and voluntary effort led by EPA called the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC). NCDC includes stakeholders within relevant industries using or producing diesel, public interest groups, legislators from the federal to the municipal level, the media and other interested parties. The group's focus is on reducing diesel emissions nationally and successfully implementing the diesel engine emission rulesm as well as promoting the reduction of emissions for existing diesel engines through cost-effective and innovative strategies. On a regional basis across the nation, stakeholder groups were formed, such as the Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative (MCDI) for EPA Region 5,. These groups determine ways to reduce emissions from older, existing diesel engines not covered by the Agency's stringent standards for cleaner fuels and new, cleaner engines. "Cleaning up diesel emissions in this country will take a concerted, collaborative effort of public and private organizations, and this group will bring greater visibility, energy and resources to this effort," says EPA Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. The MCDI, comprised of 32 public-sector and private-industry organizations, estimates that more than 3 million diesel engines in the Midwest would benefit from the use of cleaner fuels, idle-reduction and diesel-retrofit technologies and strategies. These include rebuilding, repowering, replacing, refueling and retrofitting these engines with emission control devices. The Midwest group set a common goal of cutting emissions from 1 million diesel engines in the region by 2010. Already, the public-private partnership has undertaken more than $30 million in projects, affecting 350,000 engines, and reducing air pollution by more than 3.5 million pounds per year. "This initiative is about fostering a collaborative environment where we all work together for cleaner communities," says Brian Mormino, director of government relations for Cummins Inc. " We have made a significant investment to meet EPA's emissions standards for new engines and know that we can accomplish much more by leveraging our relationships to address those already in operation today." The success that these collaborative efforts have had to date in regions across the country is clear. That the new and revised rules were driven by dialogue between a regulator and stakeholders, rather than the issuance of an arbitrary edict, is of note, for it serves as model for success in resolving other divisive issues that the automotive industry faces.(Source: EPA, MCDI)
* Requiring the use of diesel particulate filters (DPFs).
* Mandating the integration of catalysts to help reduce harmful NOx emissions.
* Regulating that sulfur levels in highway diesel fuel to be reduced by 97 percent, primarily through the use of ultralow Sulfur diesel (ULSD).
* Revising existing on-board diagnostic (OBD) system requirements for diesel engines used in model-year 2010 and later heavy-duty highway vehicles and engines weighing more than 14,000 pounds.
* Requiring manufacturers to install the OBD systems and to also provide available repair and maintenance information to the service and repair industry.
- Brian Mormino, director of government relations for Cummins Inc.In the past, heavy-duty diesel engines have relied primarily on in-cylinder modifications to meet emission standards. Emission standards have been met through various means, including changes in fuel timing, piston design, combustion chamber design, charge air cooling, use of four valves per cylinder rather than two, and piston ring pack design and location improvements. Collaboration sets realistic goals Of significant note, these proposed rule changes have come from a collaborative and voluntary effort led by EPA called the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC). NCDC includes stakeholders within relevant industries using or producing diesel, public interest groups, legislators from the federal to the municipal level, the media and other interested parties. The group's focus is on reducing diesel emissions nationally and successfully implementing the diesel engine emission rulesm as well as promoting the reduction of emissions for existing diesel engines through cost-effective and innovative strategies. On a regional basis across the nation, stakeholder groups were formed, such as the Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative (MCDI) for EPA Region 5,. These groups determine ways to reduce emissions from older, existing diesel engines not covered by the Agency's stringent standards for cleaner fuels and new, cleaner engines. "Cleaning up diesel emissions in this country will take a concerted, collaborative effort of public and private organizations, and this group will bring greater visibility, energy and resources to this effort," says EPA Region 5 Administrator Mary A. Gade. The MCDI, comprised of 32 public-sector and private-industry organizations, estimates that more than 3 million diesel engines in the Midwest would benefit from the use of cleaner fuels, idle-reduction and diesel-retrofit technologies and strategies. These include rebuilding, repowering, replacing, refueling and retrofitting these engines with emission control devices. The Midwest group set a common goal of cutting emissions from 1 million diesel engines in the region by 2010. Already, the public-private partnership has undertaken more than $30 million in projects, affecting 350,000 engines, and reducing air pollution by more than 3.5 million pounds per year. "This initiative is about fostering a collaborative environment where we all work together for cleaner communities," says Brian Mormino, director of government relations for Cummins Inc. " We have made a significant investment to meet EPA's emissions standards for new engines and know that we can accomplish much more by leveraging our relationships to address those already in operation today." The success that these collaborative efforts have had to date in regions across the country is clear. That the new and revised rules were driven by dialogue between a regulator and stakeholders, rather than the issuance of an arbitrary edict, is of note, for it serves as model for success in resolving other divisive issues that the automotive industry faces.(Source: EPA, MCDI)
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