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

  • December 3, 2014
    Arup report reveals the future of highways
    Future highways will be made from self-healing, glow-in-the-dark materials and will be governed by sophisticated technologies that communicate with cars, road infrastructure and GPS systems, according to the Future of Highways report from global engineering and design consultancy, Arup.
  • April 29, 2016
    Germany’ plans subsidies to encourage EV use ‘an interesting move’
    Germany has announced plans to motivate German citizens to buy electric and hybrid vehicles, say news reports, with a plan that the transport ministry hopes will boost sluggish electric-vehicle sales. The plan is expected to cost US$1.35 billion (€1.2 billion), with the government and automakers sharing the cost. Car buyers will receive a US$4,530 (€4,000) discount on electric vehicles and a US$3,398 ($3,000) discount on hybrids. The proposal also includes the installation of more charging stations
  • July 26, 2013
    Qatar invests $70 billion to pave the way to world beating transportation
    Eng. Zeina Nazer looks at what Qatar’s recently-announced investment in transport infrastructure will mean on the ground. Qatar is experiencing a rapid economic and industrial growth. This growth is characterised by a rapid population increase and by the urgent need towards the development of both infrastructure projects and major transport projects. In order to handle this rate of development within Qatar, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is developing a fully-integrated multimodal transportation system in
  • August 20, 2013
    TfL consults on proposals to withdraw cash fare payments
    Transport for London (TfL) has launched a public consultation to seek customers’ views on proposals to withdraw cash fare payments on London buses. Since the introduction of the Oyster card in 2003, and the launch of contactless payment cards on London’s buses last year, fewer than one per cent of bus fares are now paid in cash, down from 25 per cent in 2000. TfL is now putting proposals to passengers that would see cash fare payments on London buses ending in 2014. Research shows that the majori