Cummins joins SCR bandwagon

Sept. 1, 2008
With the announcement by Cummins that it will add selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment to its heavy-duty product line to meet 2010 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) diesel-engine emissions regulations, only one U.S. engine maker Navistar will not offer the alternative for 2010. Cummins said recent advancements in catalyst technology, specifically its use of copper zeolite, will allow

With the announcement by Cummins that it will add selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment to its heavy-duty product line to meet 2010 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) diesel-engine emissions regulations, only one U.S. engine maker — Navistar — will not offer the alternative for 2010.

Cummins said recent advancements in catalyst technology, specifically its use of copper zeolite, will allow its 2010 engines to achieve up to a 5% improvement in fuel economy while meeting EPA regulations.

According to Steve Charlton, vp of heavy-duty engineering for Cummins, copper zeolite has been around for a long time, but wasn't in research labs until two or three years ago and only became available for automotive applications in the past nine to twelve months. “Copper zeolite is very, very efficient at reducing NOx compared to other catalysts,” he said.

“Everyone in the industry will be using EGR [exhaust gas recirculation],” Charlton said. “It's really the combination of EGR and SCR that makes this work, along with the diesel particulate filter…we are running prototype systems right now, and we're confident that the SCR results we're expecting can be delivered.”

The announcement leaves Navistar as the only U.S. engine maker that will not be offering an SCR engine for 2010. Navistar currently does not plan to offer an SCR option. “We have our strategy, and we're sticking to it,” Roy Wiley, Navistar spokesperson, told Fleet Owner. “Our engine platform has been thoroughly tested using EGR, and we believe this is the best path for us to take for our customers.”

About the Author

JUSTIN CARRETTA

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

What challenges are top of mind for fleet professionals in 2025? Get exclusive insights from the 2025 Fleet Trends Survey and discover where the industry is headed next.
The most successful fleets accomplish more than delivering freight. To accomplish this, fleets need a fuel that’s reliable, more economical and more sustainable. That fuel is ...
Are your KPIs driving real fleet improvement? Learn how to set smarter, data-driven benchmarks, track success like top-performing fleets, and apply proven strategies to optimize...
Learn how eets can enhance truck utilization and minimize safety incidents using business intelligence and AI. Delve into innovative practices, technology integration and real...