In his address at the Credit Suisse First Boston Trucking Conference 2005, Jim McReynolds, general manager, Caterpillar On-Highway Engines and Power Systems North America, said Caterpillar already is poised to meet 2007 emissions standards, with the company's breakthrough ACERT Technology as the foundation.
"We're ready to meet the EPA standards for 2007. In fact, a significant number of 2007 compliant engines will be operating in customer fleets by mid 2005," McReynolds said.
In his address, McReynolds also highlighted some significant Caterpillar milestones. By the end of 2004, almost 24,000 individual companies had purchased Cat engines with ACERT Technology. Today, more than 200,000 Cat engines with ACERT Technology are on the road, including those in 16 of the top 25 fleets. In the ten years from 1995 to 2004, Cat has shipped 1,060,000 on-highway engines, and the Cat on-highway active engine population now is near 1.25 million.
Caterpillar began development of ACERT Technology in 2001 after determining that cooled-EGR--which puts unfiltered exhaust back into the combustion chamber--would not provide long-term engine durability or customer value. The EPA analysis from the data given by engine manufacturers backed up this finding by indicating that cooled-EGR engines would have 25 percent less useful life, which translates to more operating costs and lower resale value.
"The viability of cooled-EGR as a long-term solution to emissions reduction fades as concerns based on EGR's durability continue to rise," McReynolds said.
Caterpillar launched ACERT Technology as our engine emissions solution in 2003, indicating that it also would be the foundation for emissions technology for 2007, 2010 and beyond, according to McReynolds.
"Ten years ago, some in the industry questioned whether Cat would be in this business for the long haul," McReynolds said. "Cat remains the market leader, a position we've held since 1999, with 30 percent of industry sales for the combined heavy duty and mid-range engine units. Customers are buying Cat engines at a rate one and a half times that of the nearest competition."
In addition to their success among on-highway truck owners, Cat engines also are gaining in popularity in recreation vehicles, transit buses and motor coaches, according to McReynolds. "ACERT Technology is fast becoming the number one choice in these markets," McReynolds said.