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

  • The great pay divide
    April 2, 2014
    Public acceptance is crucial for the acceptance of managed and express lanes as Jon Masters discovers. Lists of proposed highway expansion projects introducing variably priced toll lanes continue to lengthen. Managed lanes, or express lanes to some, are gaining support as a politically favourable way of adding capacity and reducing acute congestion on principal highways. In Florida, for example, the managed lanes on the 95 Express are claimed to have significantly increased average peak-time speeds on tolle
  • UK government funding package benefits plug-in vehicle drivers
    February 21, 2013
    UK drivers with plug-in vehicles are set to benefit from a US$57.3 million funding package for home and on-street charging and for new charge points for people parking plug-in vehicles at railway stations. The coalition government will provide 75 per cent of the cost of installing new charge points. This can be claimed by: people installing charge points where they live; local authorities installing rapid charge points to facilitate longer journeys, or providing on-street charging on request from residents
  • ITS Australia congratulates national award winners for 2017
    November 28, 2017
    Winners of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Australia National Awards 2017 have been announced at the Art’s Centre Melbourne. The 8th edition celebrated the nation’s most innovative and advanced transport technologies from a record number of nominations across a variety of organisations. Attended by Hon Ben Caroll MP, Minister for Industry and Employment, the awards recognise professional ITS expertise and raise awareness across all levels of government and community about the technology benefits
  • Leading Finland’s transport revolution
    July 18, 2017
    Anne Berner, Finland’s minister of transport and communications, does not fit the normal political mould. She is not a career politician but a business executive who became a member of parliament in 2015 and has said from the outset that she will only serve one term. Without concerns about being re-elected and a clear view of the future of transport, Berner can concentrate on what needs to be done - tackling some of the more contentious and intransigent subjects. Her name is best known for two major initiat