Skip to main content

New clean diesel technology improving air quality and fuel efficiency, research finds

The introduction of more advanced diesel truck engines, innovative emissions control systems, and cleaner diesel fuel over the past decade have successfully resulted in major improvements in air quality and fuel efficiency, according to new research compiled by The Martec Group, a global technical marketing research firm, for the Diesel Technology Forum. The four million cleaner heavy-duty diesels introduced from 2007 through 2015 have saved US consumers: 29 million tonnes of C02; 7.5 million tonnes o
July 29, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The introduction of more advanced diesel truck engines, innovative emissions control systems, and cleaner diesel fuel over the past decade have successfully resulted in major improvements in air quality and fuel efficiency, according to new research compiled by The Martec Group, a global technical marketing research firm, for the Diesel Technology Forum.
 
The four million cleaner heavy-duty diesels introduced from 2007 through 2015 have saved US consumers:  29 million tonnes of C02; 7.5 million tonnes of NOx; 218,000 tonnes of Particulate Matter (PM); 2.9 billion gallons of diesel; 69 million barrels of crude oil.
 
According to Allan Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, the findings show that the new generation of clean diesel technology is delivering large and expanding benefits to society in the form of fewer emissions and lower fuel consumption.  The reductions from the 2007 and newer trucks on the road today are equivalent to removing the CO2 emissions from 6.1 million light-duty cars from the road for one year, removing the NOx emissions from all light-duty cars for two years, and removing the particulate matter from all light-duty cars for six years.
 
Schaeffer said 42 per cent of all medium and heavy-duty diesel commercial trucks (Classes 3-8) in operation in the United States, four million of 9.5 million diesel trucks, were now equipped with newer technology clean diesel engines; up from 38 percent last year.  For Class 8 trucks running the newest generation (2010 and newer) engines, the new technology saved truckers US$2,400 a year in fuel costs by using 875 fewer gallons of fuel (based on 125,000 miles travelled).
 
“As the world’s attention is now focused on meeting future international climate commitments, it is important to recognize the fuels and technologies that are delivering proven benefits here and now in communities all across America, because technologies like clean diesel will also be vital to achieving those future goals as well,” Schaeffer said.

Related Content

  • PTV manages Strasbourg’s traffic flow to improve air quality
    February 21, 2018
    PTV Group's signal control system has helped Strasbourg’s Eurométropole reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 8% and particulate matter by 9% in a project which set out to slash emissions by decreasing stop-and-go traffic along one of the city’s main arterial roads. The simulation also cut vehicle stops by 9%. Called PTV Epics, the software tool controlled the waiting times for all road users at the traffic lights, reducing 85% of all cases to 45 seconds, which would otherwise only apply to 35% of road
  • Bristol to test new green bus technology
    January 9, 2015
    The city of Bristol in the UK is to pilot the latest green technology for buses thanks to a US$1.5 million grant from the Government to coincide with the city’s year as European Green Capital. Baroness Kramer, minister of State for Transport, announced today that Bristol will receive funding to purchase a number of new hybrid buses which can switch from diesel to electric automatically in low emission zones. The grant from the green bus fund will be used to purchase a number of hybrid buses with geo-f
  • ‘Free’ power for signs, shelters and so much more
    March 17, 2016
    David Crawford looks at the sunny side of the street. Solar power has been relatively slow in entering the transport sector, but a current blossoming of activity bodes well for the large-scale harnessing of an alternative energy that is zero-emission at source and, in practical terms, infinitely renewable. Traffic management and traveller information systems, and actual vehicles, are all emerging as areas for deployment. Meanwhile roads themselves are being viewed as new-style, fossil fuel-free ‘power stati
  • Intelligent parking guidance relieves congestion, reduces costs
    July 24, 2012
    O R Tambo International Airport, near the city of Johannesburg, is the largest airport in Africa. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel to/from South Africa and is one of 10 airports operated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). This airport places a massive demand on road infrastructure and parking facilities since a majority of travellers get to the airport by motor vehicle. The demand for parking left many people searching for a parking space for eight minutes or more