Groups Say New Diesel Technology on Track for ’07 Regs

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nvironmental Protection Agency officials met Monday with trucking industry and environmental leaders and makers of diesel technology engines, as the Jan. 1 compliance date for 2007 new diesel emissions standards draws closer.

At a Washington event hosted by the Diesel Technology Forum, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves and other officials reviewed technologies, engines and trucks, conducting a “white handkerchief test” on emissions from new-generation engines.

"For the past century, diesel engines have been America's economic workhorse — reliable, fuel efficient, and long-lasting," Johnson said. "Through innovations in technology, this economic workhorse is expanding into an environmental workhorse."

Diesel engine makers — including Caterpillar Inc., Cummins Inc., Detroit Diesel Corp. and Volvo Trucks North America — each had engines on display and said they were on track to meet the ’07 standards, which will be more stringent for particulate emissions.

"While today’s trucks and buses already produce only one-eighth the tailpipe exhaust compared to those built in 1990, new engines will be even cleaner," said Allen Schaeffer, DTF's executive director.

"It will take 60 trucks built in 2007 to equal the soot emissions of one truck sold in 1988," he said.