Volvo Trucks Says It Has EPA OK for Engines

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img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/volvologo.gif" width=100 align=right>Volvo Trucks North America Inc. said Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency has granted emissions certification to Volvo’s new diesel engine.

The company said the EPA approval clears the way for Volvo to sell its new VED12 diesel engine after Oct. 1. On that date, new stringent emissions standards go into effect for all diesel engines built and sold in the United States.

"We believe this engine meets all applicable emissions requirements of the Clean Air Act, EPA's regulations and the terms of your consent decree," the agency said in a letter to Volvo.

Volvo said its new VN series of Class 8 trucks, which debuted in August, are the only heavy-duty trucks "designed to be fully integrated" with an EPA compliant engine. As a result, the company claims, that the new VN trucks should only see a "0-2% decrease in fuel economy with the new engines."

Among the major complaints against the new engines are the increased cost and decreased fuel efficiency.

"Our testing has shown that when paired with the new Volvo VN highway tractor, Volvo's VED12 engine will not only meet the new emissions requirements, but also deliver industry-leading fuel economy and performance," said Susan Alt, vice president of marketing.

(Click here for the full press release from Volvo.)

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