As part of an effort to increase fuel efficiency and reduce harmful vehicle emissions, executives from leading car, truck and engine manufacturers, diesel exhaust fluid producers, fuel retailers, distributors and dispensing equipment suppliers met with members of trade associations and governing agencies to plan for the rollout of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology in diesel-powered passenger cars and light, medium and heavy duty trucks.
Key to that rollout is the development of a distribution and retail infrastructure to support the availability of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), which enables SCR systems in vehicles to operate. Participants say outcomes of this cross-functional commitment will be a nationwide infrastructure that supports product availability and assures the quality of diesel exhaust fluid for passenger cars and light trucks introduced in 2008 and 2009 as well as for medium- and heavy-duty trucks using SCR technology to meet new Environmental Protection Agency emissions standard requirements set for 2010.
One of the only emissions control technologies that can reduce harmful NOx emissions while increasing fuel economy, SCR is one of the most promising technologies to deliver clean, fuel-efficient and environmentally-compliant diesel power for cars and commercial trucks. By optimizing fuel efficiency, SCR improves engine performance while reducing emissions to near-zero levels.
SCR-equipped vehicles require only the addition of small quantities of the separate diesel exhaust fluid to reduce exhaust to harmless levels of nitrogen and water. In addition to improved air quality and benefits to public health, SCR-equipped vehicles offer significant fuel savings for vehicle owners and operators, reducing U.S. dependence on foreign sources of oil.
The SCR Stakeholder Group represents nearly 200 public and private organizations. Participants include government agencies (U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), automotive and heavy-duty engine and truck manufacturers and trade associations, fuel retailers and truck stop trade associations, chemical and oil companies, diesel exhaust fluid producers, distributors and dispensing equipment manufacturers.